Gaps in the Care Cascade among Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Exposed Infants Born in 2017 in Mashonaland East Province of Zimbabwe.

Introduction: Prevention of mother-to-child transmission (PMTCT) is a key strategy for ending the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) pandemic. Most studies have focused on the mothers' side of the PMTCT cascade or the rate of vertical HIV transmission. Information on child-focused cascade is limited.

What is operational research and how can national tuberculosis programmes in low- and middle-income countries use it to end TB?

Despite considerable progress over the years, tuberculosis (TB) still remains the top cause of death among the infectious diseases and has devastating socio-economic consequences for people in low- and middle-income countries. To add to this, the emergence of the COVID-19 pandemic has worsened delivery of TB care across the globe. As a global community, we have committed to end the TB epidemic by 2030.

Quality, Equity and Utility of Observational Studies during 10 Years of Implementing the Structured Operational Research and Training Initiative in 72 Countries.

Observational studies are often inadequately reported, making it difficult to assess their validity and generalizability and judge whether they can be included in systematic reviews. We assessed the publication characteristics and quality of reporting of observational studies generated by the Structured Operational Research and Training Initiative (SORT IT). A cross-sectional analysis of original publications from SORT IT courses.

What Proportion of New Tuberculosis Patients Has a History of Household Tuberculosis Exposure? A Cross-Sectional Study from Udupi District, South India.

While tuberculosis (TB) preventive therapy among household contacts is effective at an individual level, its population-level impact on reducing TB incidence has been unclear. In this study, we aimed to assess, among the new tuberculosis patients started on treatment between 1 October, 2018 and 30 June, 2019 in the public health facilities of Udupi district (South India): i) the proportion with a 'history of household TB exposure' and ii) sociodemographic and clinical factors associated with it. We conducted a cross-sectional study involving record review and patient interviews.

HIV care among patients with presumptive tuberculosis in Masvingo district of Zimbabwe, 2017: how well are we doing?

Introduction: While HIV care among tuberculosis (TB) patients is successfully implemented and monitored, it is not routinely reported among "presumptive TB patients without TB". The present study describes the ascertainment of HIV status and receipt of antiretroviral therapy (ART) and the associated factors among presumptive TB patients (with and without TB) in 35 public health facilities of Masvingo district of Zimbabwe from January to June 2017.

Methods: This was an analysis of secondary programme data.

Are we missing 'previously treated' smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis under programme settings in India? A cross-sectional study.

In 2007, a field observation from India reported 11% misclassification among 'new' patients registered under the revised national tuberculosis (TB) control programme. Ten years down the line, it is important to know what proportion of newly registered patients has a past history of TB treatment for at least one month (henceforth called 'misclassification'). A study was conducted among new smear-positive pulmonary TB patients registered between March 2016 and February 2017 in 18 randomly selected districts to determine the effectiveness of an active case-finding strategy in marginalised and vulnerable populations.

Tuberculosis screening among pregnant women attending a tertiary care hospital in Puducherry, South India: is it worth the effort?

Background: The national tuberculosis (TB) programme in India recommends screening all pregnant women for TB, but this is rarely implemented. We carried out systematic TB screening among women attending the antenatal clinic of a tertiary care hospital in Puducherry, South India, during February to April 2018.

Objective: To assess the number screened and number (proportion) with presumptive and active TB, and understand potential implementation from the healthcare providers' perspective.

Does the Structured Operational Research and Training Initiative (SORT IT) continue to influence health policy and/or practice?

Background: The Structured Operational Research and Training Initiative (SORT IT) is a successful model of integrated operational research and capacity building with about 90% of participants completing the training and publishing in scientific journals.

Objective: The study aims at assessing the influence of research papers from six SORT IT courses conducted between April 2014 and January 2015 on policy and/or practice.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional mixed-method study involving e-mail based, self-administered questionnaires sent to course participants coupled with telephone/Skype/in-person responses from participants, senior facilitators and local co-authors of course papers.

High pre-diagnosis attrition among patients with presumptive MDR-TB: an operational research from Bhopal district, India.

Background: Pre-diagnosis attrition needs to be addressed urgently if we are to make progress in improving MDR-TB case detection and achieve universal access to MDR-TB care. We report the pre-diagnosis attrition, along with factors associated, and turnaround times related to the diagnostic pathway among patient with presumptive MDR-TB in Bhopal district, central India (2014).

Methods: Study was conducted under the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme setting.

Isoniazid Preventive Therapy among Children Living with Tuberculosis Patients: Is It Working? A Mixed-Method Study from Bhopal, India.

Objective: We assessed uptake of isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) among child contacts of smear-positive tuberculosis (TB) patients and its implementation challenges from healthcare providers' and parents' perspectives in Bhopal, India.

Methods: A mixed-method study design: quantitative phase (review of programme records and house-to-house survey of smear-positive TB patients) followed by qualitative phase (interviews of healthcare providers and parents).

Results: Of 59 child contacts (<6 years) of 129 index patients, 51 were contacted.

Sex Differences in Cardiovascular Risk Factors among People with Diabetes in South India.

Objective: To assess the sex differences in the prevalence of cardiovascular risk factors among patients with type 2 diabetes, visiting the hospital between March-December 2012.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was performed among the type 2 diabetes patients attending M.V.

Alarming attrition rates among HIV-infected individuals in pre-antiretroviral therapy care in Myanmar, 2011-2014.

Background: High retention rates have been documented among patients receiving antiretroviral therapy (ART) in Myanmar. However, there is no information on human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals in care before initiation of ART (pre-ART care). We assessed attrition (loss-to-follow-up [LTFU] and death) rates among HIV-infected individuals in pre-ART care and their associated factors over a 4-year period.

HIV Testing among Patients with Presumptive Tuberculosis: How Do We Implement in a Routine Programmatic Setting? Results of a Large Operational Research from India.

Background: In March 2012, World Health Organization recommended that HIV testing should be offered to all patients with presumptive TB (previously called TB suspects). How this is best implemented and monitored in routine health care settings in India was not known. An operational research was conducted in Karnataka State (South India, population 64 million, accounts for 10% of India's HIV burden), to test processes and learn results and challenges of screening presumptive TB patients for HIV within routine health care settings.

Who takes the medicine? Adherence to antiretroviral therapy in Southern Ethiopia.

Background: Treatment adherence is critical for the success of antiretroviral therapy (ART) for people living with HIV. There is limited representative information on ART drug adherence and its associated factors from Southern Ethiopia. We aimed at estimating the level of adherence to ART among people living with HIV and factors associated with it in 20 randomly selected ART clinics of Southern Ethiopia.

Light Emitting Diode Fluorescence Microscopy increased the detection of smear-positives during follow-up of Tuberculosis patients in India: program implications.

Background: In India, since July 2012, at designated Microscopy Centers (DMCs) in 200 medical colleges, sputum smear examination for tuberculosis bacilli changed from Ziehl Neelsen (ZN) method to auramine based Light Emitting Diode Fluorescent Microscopy (LED-FM) method. We assessed the additional yield of smear positives among patients undergoing follow-up sputum examination during TB treatment before and after deploying LED-FM.

Methods: This was a before and after comparison study in eight conveniently selected medical college DMCs across North India.

The journey to antiretroviral therapy in Karnataka, India: who was lost on the road?

Introduction: One important operational challenge facing antiretroviral treatment (ART) programmes in low- and middle-income countries is the loss to follow-up between diagnosis of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) and initiation of ART. This is a major obstacle to achieving universal access to ART. This study from Karnataka, India, tried to measure such losses by determining the number of HIV-positive individuals diagnosed, the number of them reaching ART centres, the number initiated on ART and the reasons for non-initiation of ART.