Implementing active surveillance for TB-The views of managers in a resource limited setting, South Africa

The achievement of the World Health Organization's END TB goals will depend on the successful implementation of strategies for early diagnosis and retention of patients on effective therapy until cure. An estimated 150,000 cases are missed annually in South Africa. It is necessary to look at means for identifying these missed cases. This requires the implementation of active surveillance for TB, a policy adopted by the National Department of Health.

To explore the views of managers of the TB program on the implementation of active surveillance for TB in the resource constrained setting of the Eastern Cape, South Africa.

A descriptive, explorative, thematically analysed qualitative study based on 10 semi-structured interviews of managers of the TB program. Interviews were transcribed verbatim and analysed using the framework method and Atlas-ti.

Active case finding of people attending health facilities was the dominant approach, although screening by community health workers (CHWs) was available. Both government and non-government organisations employed CHWs to screen door to door and sometimes as part of campaigns or community events. Some CHWs focused only on contact tracing or people that were non-adherent to TB treatment. Challenges for CHWs included poor coordination and duplication of services, failure to investigate those identified in the community, lack of transport and supportive supervision as well as security issues. Successes included expanding coverage by government CHW teams, innovations to improve screening, strategies to improve CHW capability and attention to social determinants.

A multifaceted facility- and community-based approach was seen as ideal for active surveillance. More resources should be targeted at strengthening teams of CHWs, for whom this would be part of a comprehensive and integrated service in a community-orientated primary care framework, and community engagement to strengthen community level interventions.