SETTING: Urban and rural communities and urban poor settlements in the Philippines. OBJECTIVE: To determine bacillary disease and action taking among individuals with symptoms of tuberculosis (TB), and to analyze their implications for TB control. STUDY DESIGN AND METHOD: Subjects aged 20 years and older were interviewed in the 1997 nationwide stratified multi-cluster survey. Sputum acid-fast smears and cultures were done in subjects with abnormal screening chest radiographs. RESULTS: Individuals with TB symptoms comprised 18.1% of the population studied. The prevalence of bacillary disease was 39/1000 in symptomatic subjects compared to 13/1000 in asymptomatic subjects. Symptom screening had a 14.3% positive predictive value and a 91.4% negative predictive value for bacillary disease. Significantly more symptomatic than asymptomatic subjects attended chest radiographic screening during the survey. However, in response to their symptoms, the majority (43.0%) took no action or self medicated (31.6%), while 11.8% consulted a private practitioner, 7.5% a public health center, 4.4% a hospital, and 1.7% a traditional healer. CONCLUSION: Sputum smear examination after symptom screening was acceptable for case finding. The health seeking behavior of subjects with TB symptoms was inappropriate. A health education program and public-private collaboration in directly observed therapy, short course (DOTS) are essential for TB control in the Philippines.
SETTING: Urban and rural communities and urban poor settlements in the Philippines. OBJECTIVE: To determine bacillary disease and action taking among individuals with symptoms of tuberculosis (TB), and to analyze their implications for TB control. STUDY DESIGN AND METHOD: Subjects aged 20 years and older were interviewed in the 1997 nationwide stratified multi-cluster survey. Sputum acid-fast smears and cultures were done in subjects with abnormal screening chest radiographs. RESULTS: Individuals with TB symptoms comprised 18.1% of the population studied. The prevalence of bacillary disease was 39/1000 in symptomatic subjects compared to 13/1000 in asymptomatic subjects. Symptom screening had a 14.3% positive predictive value and a 91.4% negative predictive value for bacillary disease. Significantly more symptomatic than asymptomatic subjects attended chest radiographic screening during the survey. However, in response to their symptoms, the majority (43.0%) took no action or self medicated (31.6%), while 11.8% consulted a private practitioner, 7.5% a public health center, 4.4% a hospital, and 1.7% a traditional healer. CONCLUSION: Sputum smear examination after symptom screening was acceptable for case finding. The health seeking behavior of subjects with TB symptoms was inappropriate. A health education program and public-private collaboration in directly observed therapy, short course (DOTS) are essential for TB control in the Philippines.
Authors: Muhammad Umair Mushtaq; Ubeera Shahid; Hussain Muhammad Abdullah; Anum Saeed; Fatima Omer; Mushtaq Ahmad Shad; Arif Mahmood Siddiqui; Javed Akram Journal: Int J Equity Health Date: 2011-02-04
Authors: Malancha Karmakar; Romain Ragonnet; David B Ascher; James M Trauer; Justin T Denholm Journal: BMC Infect Dis Date: 2022-01-24 Impact factor: 3.090
Authors: Saeed Akhtar; Franklin White; Rumina Hasan; Shafquat Rozi; Mohammad Younus; Faiza Ahmed; Sara Husain; Bilquis Sana Khan Journal: BMC Public Health Date: 2007-05-03 Impact factor: 3.295