Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jul 5, 2026
10:41
A Tuberculosis Molecular Bacterial Load Assay (TB-MBLA)
Published on: April 30, 2020
ITARA research programme: Investigating Integrated Tuberculosis And Respiratory care in Africa using
Jamilah Meghji1, Nora Engel2, Wanjiku Kagima3,4
1National Heart and Lung Institute, Imperial College London, London, UK jmeghji@ic.ac.uk.
BMJ Open
|July 3, 2026
Summary
Integrated care for pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) is crucial in high-incidence settings. This research explores strategies for combining PTB and CRD services to improve patient outcomes and healthcare efficiency.
Area of Science:
- Global Health
- Respiratory Medicine
- Health Systems Research
Background:
- Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) share risk factors and symptoms, yet are often managed separately in high-incidence regions.
- PTB is a significant independent risk factor for developing chronic lung disease, highlighting the need for integrated management.
- Current fragmented healthcare services for PTB and CRDs limit effective prevention, diagnosis, and care, particularly in resource-limited settings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate strategies for integrated TB-CRD care in Tanzania, Kenya, and Nigeria.
- To describe the burden and impact of non-TB respiratory diseases within TB care pathways.
- To develop context-informed models for integrated TB-CRD care.
Main Methods:
- A transdisciplinary research program employing clinical, health economic, health systems, and qualitative methods.
- Prospective clinical cohort study of adolescents and adults with chronic cough.
- Qualitative methods including interviews and focus groups to explore patient and provider experiences.
Main Results:
- The study will characterize the burden of non-TB respiratory diseases in patients managed via TB pathways.
- Health economic analyses will assess costs and consequences of integrated diagnostics and care.
- Qualitative data will identify barriers and facilitators to integrated care delivery.
Conclusions:
- Findings will inform the development of integrated TB-CRD care models.
- A theory of change and evaluation framework will be established for future implementation studies.
- This research aims to improve respiratory health outcomes through integrated service delivery.
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