Abstract
The CONTACT study (Cameroon, Uganda) is a cluster-randomized trial evaluating a community intervention for tuberculosis contact investigation and tuberculosis preventive treatment management. It includes index case counseling at the facility, community health workers- led home-based child contact screening and tuberculosis preventive therapy monitoring, as well as referral of children with tuberculosis suggestive symptoms or potential side effects.
As part of the impact evaluation of this community-based intervention, we performed a qualitative assessment focusing on the acceptability and feasibility of the intervention by both providers and beneficiaries. We conducted in-depth interviews with 24 healthcare providers and community leaders and 12 focus group discussions with 79 index cases (separated by gender). Transcripts were analyzed using ATLAS.ti version 9.
The facility-based tuberculosis standard of care’s limitations included distance, transport costs, and waiting time associated with the workload of limited human resources. The community-based intervention was found acceptable and feasible by all participants. Determinants of acceptability included the index case's counseling and the legitimacy of community health workers. The main drivers of feasibility were community health workers’ financial motivation, code of conduct, and training, and household visit planning.
The community-based intervention is acceptable and feasible. The combination of home-based child contact screening and tuberculosis preventive therapy management has the potential of preventing the onset of tuberculosis disease in millions of children from high-burden, limited resource areas.
These abstracts are not to be quoted for publication
