Tuberculosis care: enhancing directly observed therapy in a peri-urban, low socioeconomic status neighbourhood.

Elijah Zhengyang Cai; Si Min Chua; Monica Tan; Paul Anantharajah Tambyah

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Tuberculosis care: enhancing directly observed therapy in a peri-urban, low socioeconomic status neighbourhood.

Author: Elijah Zhengyang CAI ¹ ; Si Min CHUA ² ; Monica TAN ³ ; Paul Anantharajah TAMBYAH ⁴
Author Information

1. Division of Plastic, Reconstructive and Aesthetic Surgery, Department of Surgery, National University Health System, Singapore.
2. Army Medical Services, Singapore Armed Forces, Singapore.
3. Department of Anaesthesia, SingHealth, Singapore.
4. Division of Infectious Diseases, University Medicine Cluster, National University Health System, Singapore.
Publication Type:Journal Article
Keywords: Philippines; compliance; outcomes; treatment; tuberculosis
From:Singapore medical journal 2019;60(7):334-336
CountrySingapore
Language:English
Abstract: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major health issue in the Philippines. TB-Care was introduced in 2011 to tackle pulmonary TB among the urban poor in Payatas, Quezon City, Philippines. We evaluated the efficacy of TB-Care in increasing treatment success and compliance rates. This retrospective case series reviewed 44 patients with pulmonary TB enrolled in TB-Care from 2013 to 2014. Diagnosis and treatment of pulmonary TB was made in accordance with World Health Organization guidelines. Treatment outcomes included cure, completed treatment, successfully treated, failed treatment and transferred to another facility. 14 (73.7%) out of 19 patients tested were bacteriologically cured. The average 100% compliance rate was 90.8% over six months. The programme successfully treated 39 (88.6%) patients. This was comparable to the overall national treatment success rate of 90% for Philippines and 79% for Singapore, with higher compliance rates than were previously reported in this community.