Active case finding for Tuberculosis among migrant brick kiln workers in South India

"Active case finding among key populations" is one of the four main thrust areas under the National Strategic Plan for Tuberculosis (NSP) 2017-25.

This study aims to actively screen for TB symptoms and disease among migrant brick kiln workers and their care seeking behaviour for the symptoms through a private-public partnership effort.

This was a cross sectional study conducted among all migrant brick kiln workers working in the brick kilns in the field practice area of the Rural Health Centre of a medical college hospital. A pretested structured questionnaire was used for the interview. Productive Cough with or without other symptoms for 2 weeks or more was considered suggestive of TB. Sputum smear microscopy and Gene Xpert were used to diagnose TB among symptomatics. SPSS version 16.0 was used for analysis.

Among 580 brick kiln workers, the prevalence of TB symptoms was 9.7%. Upon sputum examination, one was found to be positive for TB. Smoking was found to be associated with TB symptoms (p < 0.05). Only 50% of the symptomatics sought health care and the main reason for not seeking was low severity of symptoms.

Active case finding is helpful in screening and diagnosing TB among the marginalised community of brick kiln workers.