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Journal Article
|Research

Self-administered treatment for tuberculosis among pastoralists in rural Ethiopia: how well does it work?

Khogali MA, Zachariah R, Reid AJ, Alipon SC, Zimble S, Mahama G, Etienne W, Veerman R, Dahmane A, Weyeyso T, Hassan AM, Harries AD
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Self-administered treatment for tuberculosis among pastoralists in rural Ethiopia: how well does it work? | Journal Article / Research | MSF Science Portal
Abstract
OBJECTIVES
In the Somali Regional State, Ethiopia, where most of the population are pastoralists, conventional TB treatment strategies based on directly observed treatment (DOT) at health facilities are not adapted to the mobile pastoralist lifestyle and treatment adherence is poor. From a rural district, we report on treatment outcomes of a modified self-administered treatment (SAT) strategy for pastoralists with TB.

METHODS
A descriptive cohort study was carried out between May 2010 and March 2012. The modified DOT strategy comprised a shorter intensive phase at the health facility (2 weeks for new patients, 8 weeks in the event of re-treatment), followed by self-administered TB treatment.

RESULTS
A total of 390 patients started TB treatment. The overall treatment success rate was 81.2% (317/390); the rates of death, loss-to-follow up and treatment failure were 6.7% (26/390), 9.2% (36/390) and 0.3% (1/390) respectively. A considerable proportion (10/26, 38%) of deaths occurred during the first month of treatment.

CONCLUSION
In a pastoralist setting, a modified SAT strategy resulted in good treatment outcomes. If the global plan to eliminate TB by 2050 is to become a reality, it will be necessary to adapt TB services to client needs to ensure that all TB patients (including pastoralists) have access to TB treatment.

Countries

Ethiopia

Subject Area

tuberculosisoperational research

Languages

English
DOI
10.1093/inthealth/ihu008
Published Date
16 Mar 2014
PubMed ID
24639343
Journal
International Health
Volume | Issue | Pages
Volume 6, Issue 2, Pages 112-117
Issue Date
2014-03-16
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