ICT-enabled community engagement models for early tuberculosis detection

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Informatics
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Tuberculosis (TB) remains a global health challenge, with delayed diagnosis exacerbating its spread and mortality, particularly in underserved regions.
• Effective community engagement and simplified diagnostic processes are crucial for timely TB detection and control.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and evaluate an Information and Communication Technology (ICT)-enabled model designed to boost early TB detection rates through enhanced community engagement and simplified diagnostics.
• To compare the effectiveness of an ICT-enabled TB screening approach against conventional methods in community health centers.

Main Methods:

• A prospective, quasi-experimental study comparing six ICT-enabled sites with six conventional screening sites over 18 months.
• The ICT framework integrated a mobile health app for community health workers, automated SMS for symptom monitoring, cloud-based case management, and GIS for hotspot mapping.
• Data collected from 1,877 presumptive TB cases (923 ICT-enabled, 924 control).

Main Results:

• ICT-enabled sites showed significantly higher case detection rates (78.4% vs. 52.1%, p < 0.001) and a lower median time to diagnosis (12.3 days vs. 28.7 days, p < 0.001).
• Treatment initiation within 48 hours was higher in ICT-enabled sites (89.2% vs. 61.4%, p < 0.001).
• Community health worker efficiency increased by 43.6%, with a 2.8-fold rise in screened household contacts per month.

Conclusions:

• The ICT-enabled model significantly enhances early TB detection by improving community engagement and simplifying diagnostic routes.
• This technology-driven approach offers a cost-effective and scalable solution for strengthening national TB control programs.
• Implementing ICT in TB screening is vital for improving public health outcomes and reducing disease burden.