Community- based approaches to improve tuberculosis services: observations from preintervention and postintervention surveys in a high TB burden disadvantaged community in India

Intensified Tuberculosis Control among Saharia — A Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Madhya Pradesh

NIRTH Jabalpur

Study details

The study titled "Intensified Tuberculosis Control among Saharia — A Particularly Vulnerable Tribal Group (PVTG) in Madhya Pradesh" was conducted from August 2018 to March 2022. An alarmingly high prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) was reported among the Saharia tribe in Madhya Pradesh, India. A community-based intervention study was undertaken to improve TB case finding during 2018–2021. The interventions mainly comprised active case detection through village TB volunteers using advocacy, communication and social mobilisation activities. A preintervention and postintervention survey design was adopted to assess the impact of intervention. The prevalence declined from 1357 (95% CI 1206 to 1527) to 752 (95% CI 646 to 875) per 100 000 population (p<0.001). The study findings highlight the importance of innovative community-based approaches in controlling TB in high burden areas.