Yield from active case finding of tuberculosis cases among tribal population

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Epidemiology
• Infectious Diseases

Background:

• Tuberculosis (TB) is a leading cause of death in underdeveloped nations, including India.
• India aims for TB elimination by 2025, prioritizing it within its Sustainable Development Goals (SDG).
• Active Case Finding (ACF) initiatives, involving house-to-house surveys, are crucial for identifying TB cases to meet elimination targets.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of Active Case Finding (ACF) in a tribal district of India.
• To assess the impact of ACF on tuberculosis case detection and reporting in a specific tribal community.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional analysis was conducted on all tuberculosis cases identified through the ACF process.
• The study encompassed all villages within the Chhota Udepur district, focusing on the tribal community.
• Data collection spanned from 2019 to 2023, with funding and approval from the Health and Family Welfare Department.

Main Results:

• The ACF program identified a significant number of presumptive TB cases annually, ranging from 2956 to 3828.
• Tuberculosis patient diagnoses and treatment enrollments increased due to ACF activities, with yearly figures between 89 and 118.
• The ACF screening yield demonstrated an upward trend, reaching 1002 per lakh population in 2022, indicating enhanced case detection.

Conclusions:

• Active Case Finding (ACF) significantly increased tuberculosis case reporting in the studied tribal district.
• The ACF strategy proved effective in identifying and diagnosing more tuberculosis cases within the tribal population.
• Sustained ACF efforts are vital for achieving national tuberculosis elimination goals in vulnerable communities.