Tuberculosis among northern Manitoba First Nations, 2008-2012: program performance on- and off-reserve

The objectives of this study were to: (1) report tuberculosis (TB) program performance for northern First Nations in the province of Manitoba; (2) present methods for TB program performance measurement using routinely collected surveillance data; and (3) advance dialogue on performance measurement of Canadian TB programs.

Data on a retrospective cohort of people diagnosed with TB in Manitoba between January 1, 2008 and December 31, 2010, and their contacts, were extracted from the Manitoba TB Registry. Performance measures based on US-CDC were analyzed. Adjusted probability ratios (aPR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were reported with comparisons between on-/off-reserve First Nations, adjusted for age, sex, and treatment history.

A cohort of n = 149 people diagnosed with TB and n = 3560 contacts were identified. Comparisons off-/on-reserve: Treatment completion (aPR = 1.03; 95% CI 0.995-1.07); early detection (aPR = 0.87; 95% CI 0.57-1.33); HIV testing and reporting (aPR = 0.42; 95% CI 0.21-0.83); pediatric TB (age < 15 years) (aPR = 1.20; 95% CI 0.47-3.06); retreatment for TB (aPR = 0.93; 95% CI 0.89-0.97); contact elicitation (aPR = 0.94; 95% CI 0.84-1.05); contact assessment (aPR = 0.69; 95% CI 0.50-0.94). Pediatric (ages < 15 years) TB incidence in northern Manitoba was 37.1 per 100,000/year.

TB program performance varies depending on residence in a reserve or non-reserve community. Action is urgently needed to address TB program performance in terms of contact investigation and HIV testing/reporting for First Nations off-reserve and to address high rates of pediatric TB in northern Manitoba. First Nations collaboration and models of care should be considered both on- and off-reserve to improve TB program performance.