What proportion of patients diagnosed with TB and started on treatment in Manicaland Province, Zimbabwe, are registered?

A retrospective record review was carried out in selected districts in Manicaland Province, Zimbabwe, to compare the number of patients diagnosed and started on anti-TB treatment with the number listed in the TB register. There were 574 patients (290 females) diagnosed and treated for TB during the first 6 months of 2010, of whom 248 (43%) were not registered. Not being registered was associated with attending a rural hospital. An unacceptably high proportion of patients diagnosed and treated for TB were not being registered and were therefore not reported to national authorities or the WHO. The registration process in Zimbabwe requires review.