Tuberculosis case notification by private practitioners in Pune, India: how well are we doing?

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infectious Disease Epidemiology
• Health Systems Research

Background:

• Private practitioners (PPs) play a crucial role in healthcare delivery.
• Understanding their participation in tuberculosis (TB) case notification is vital for national TB control programs.
• Previous studies have highlighted potential barriers to PPs' engagement in public health initiatives.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the proportion of PPs notifying TB cases in Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation, Pune, India.
• To quantify the contribution of PPs to the overall TB case notification rate.
• To identify perceived challenges faced by PPs in reporting TB cases.

Main Methods:

• A mixed-method approach was employed, combining analysis of TB notification data with in-depth interviews of PPs.
• Notification data from February-April 2013 were analyzed.
• Inductive content analysis was performed on transcribed interviews to identify themes related to challenges.

Main Results:

• Out of 831 PPs, 533 (64%) participated in case notification activities.
• 138 TB cases (20% of total) were notified by PPs.
• Major challenges included insufficient knowledge of TB notification procedures, patient confidentiality concerns, complex reporting mechanisms, and poor coordination with the public health system.

Conclusions:

• A significant proportion of PPs participated in TB case notification, contributing substantially to the national effort.
• The national TB program should enhance training for PPs and utilize targeted communication strategies.
• Implementing alternative notification channels, such as online and mobile platforms, is recommended to address identified barriers.