Work

Non-clinical factors associated with TB: important for DOTS impact evaluation and disease elimination

Year: 2014

Type: article

Abstract: Initial optimism that DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment, Short-course) would have a dramatic effect on TB incidence rates in developing countries has not been supported by the evidence accumulated so far. Indeed, where TB incidence rates have decreased, non-clinical socio-economic factors appear to have played at least as great a role. We postulate that in those settings with little or no decrease in TB incidence, there are likely to be common pathway blockages that interfere with the effectiveness of DOTS implementation as socio-economic factors evolve. Measuring socio-economic trends, as well as DOTS implementation, is important for understanding TB control and opens up the opportunity for broader public health engagement.

Source: Transactions of the Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene

DOI: 10.1093/trstmh/tru114

Authors: Philip C. Hill, Christopher C. Whalen

Institutions: University of Otago, University of Georgia

Language: English

Topic: Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology

Subfield: Infectious Diseases

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: bronze

Funder: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases