Coverage, delays and implementation challenges of 'Direct Benefit Transfer' in the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme - A mixed methods study.

Introduction: Food insecurity and undernutrition both contribute to the large tuberculosis burden in India. Indian government rolled out the direct benefit transfer (DBT) programme "Nikshay Poshan Yojana" on a national scale on April 1, 2018 largely to provide nutritional support. Hence, it was proposed to take up this study in Western Maharashtra (Pune district) to study the coverage, delays and implementation challenges of 'Direct Benefit Transfer' in the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme as there have only been a limited number of studies conducted regarding the same.

Treatment outcomes and associated factors among patients with drug-sensitive tuberculosis on daily fixed-dose combination drugs: A cohort study from Ahmedabad, India.

Background And Aim: The National Tuberculosis Elimination Program (NTEP) has been progressive in addressing the issues related to tuberculosis (TB) control in the country, with constant programmatic changes based on evidence available from operational research. Our objectives were 1. to assess the sociodemographic and clinical characteristics, and the treatment outcomes of patients on fixed-dose combination (FDC) daily regimen and 2.

Low circulatory Fe and Se levels with a higher IL-6/IL-10 ratio provide nutritional immunity in tuberculosis.

Tuberculosis (TB) patients show dysregulated immunity, iron metabolism, and anemia. In this study, circulatory cytokines, trace metals, and iron-related proteins (hepcidin, ferroportin, transferrin, Dmt1, Nramp1, ferritin, ceruloplasmin, hemojuvelin, aconitase, and transferrin receptor) were monitored in case (active tuberculosis patients: ATB) and control (non-tuberculosis: NTB and healthy) study populations ( = 72, male: 100%, mean age, 42.94 years; range, 17-83 years).

Prevalence of bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis and associated risk factors: A community survey in Thirvallur District, south India.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) prevalence surveys add to the active case detection in the community level burden of TB both national and regional levels. The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence of bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in the community.

Methods: Household community-based tuberculosis disease survey was conducted targeting 69054 population from 43 villages of 5 blocks in Tiruvallure district adopting cluster sampling methodology of ≥15 years old adult rural population of South India during 2015-2018.

Understanding why at-risk population segments do not seek care for tuberculosis: a precision public health approach in South India.

Introduction: Delaying care-seeking for tuberculosis (TB) symptoms is a major contributor to mortality, leading to worse outcomes and spread. To reduce delays, it is essential to identify barriers to care-seeking and target populations most at risk of delaying. Previous work identifies barriers only in people within the health system, often long after initial care-seeking.

A pilot project: 99DOTS information communication technology-based approach for tuberculosis treatment in Rajkot district.

Background: 99DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment, Short course) is a low-cost, mobile phone-based technology that enables real-time remote monitoring of daily intake of treatment, first introduced by the Revised National Tuberculosis Programme under the national programme in 2015 in high-burden antiretroviral therapy (ART) centers. This project was launched for the first time in 2016 in Rajkot district, Gujarat, India, and hence this was an effort to evaluate 99DOTS.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate treatment adherence rate and treatment outcome of 99DOTS-information communication technology (ICT)-based approach for tuberculosis (TB) management.

Preference in place of delivery among rural Indian women.

India accounts for the highest number of maternal and child deaths globally. A large body of empirical research suggests that improvement in the coverage of institutional delivery is essential to reduce the burden of maternal and child death. However the dynamics of choice of place of delivery is poorly understood.

Indicators to Ensure Treatment Initiation of All Diagnosed Sputum Positive Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients under Tuberculosis Control Programme in India.

Background: Pretreatment loss to follow-up (PTLFU) is used as performance indicator of Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) of India.

Objective: To document the PTLFU, identify additional indicators and examine documentation of all the diagnosed sputum positive pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients under RNTCP.

Methodology: Tuberculosis (TB) laboratory, referral for treatment registers, and referral forms were perused for information on sputum positive PTB patients diagnosed from January to June 2014, in 3 TB Units in Chennai.

Comparative evaluation of Indian Diabetes Risk Score and Finnish Diabetes Risk Score for predicting risk of diabetes mellitus type II: A teaching hospital-based survey in Maharashtra.

Context: India is currently becoming capital for diabetes mellitus. This significantly increasing incidence of diabetes putting an additional burden on health care in India. Unfortunately, half of diabetic individuals are unknown about their diabetic status.

Sputum Conversion and Treatment Success among Tuberculosis Patients with Diabetes Treated under the Tuberculosis Control Programme in an Urban Setting in South India.

Background: Studies from India on sputum conversion and tuberculosis (TB) treatment outcomes among TB patients with diabetes are limited.

Objective: The objective of this study is to estimate the proportion of sputum smear conversion and successful treatment outcomes among diabetic-TB patients treated under Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP).

Methodology: Information on TB disease, diabetes, sputum conversion, and treatment outcomes were collected from treatment cards of adult TB patients (age >18 years) treated in the District TB Centre TB Unit, Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu from July 1, 2014, to October 31, 2015.

Evaluation of National Leprosy Eradication Program after Integration into General Health System in Rajkot District, Gujarat from 2003 to 2014.

Background: National Leprosy Eradication Program (NLEP) was launched in 1983 with the goal of elimination of leprosy as a public health problem.

Aim: To evaluate the NLEP performance after integration into general health system from April 2003 to March 2014.

Material And Methods: A retrospective record based study was conducted by obtaining data from Rajkot district leprosy center.

Screening difficult-to-reach populations for tuberculosis using a mobile medical unit, Punjab India.

Background: In India, the National Health Mission has provided one mobile medical unit (MMU) per district in the state of Punjab to provide primary health care services for difficult-to-reach populations.

Objectives: To determine the number of patients with presumptive tuberculosis (TB) and the number of TB cases detected and treated among patients who used the MMU services from May to December 2012 in Mohali district, Punjab, India.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted and registers of the out-patient, laboratory, radiology, and TB departments of the MMU were reviewed to determine the number of persons presumed to have TB and the number of persons diagnosed with TB.

Socio-economic disparities in tobacco consumption in rural India: evidence from a health and demographic surveillance system.

Aims: India houses over 275 million tobacco users, with 164 million users of only smokeless tobacco, 69 million exclusive smokers, and 42 million users of both smoking and smokeless tobacco. This study aims to examine the socio-economic factors associated with types of tobacco use in a selected rural Indian population.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with surveillance data from the Birbhum Population Project (BIRPOP).

Is screening for diabetes among tuberculosis patients feasible at the field level?

Setting: Seventeen peripheral health institutions (PHI) in Kolar district (population: 0.5 million), South India.

Objective: To assess the feasibility and results of screening patients with tuberculosis (TB) for diabetes mellitus (DM) at peripheral level.

Outcome of tuberculosis treatment in patients with diabetes mellitus treated in the revised national tuberculosis control programme in Malappuram District, Kerala, India.

Settings: Kerala State, India has reported the greatest dual burden of Tuberculosis (TB) and Diabetes Mellitus (DM). Malappuram district in Kerala has monitored and recorded DM status and its control from 2010 under Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP).

Objectives: To assess, under programme conditions, comprehensiveness of recording DM status among TB cases and the TB treatment outcomes among DM patients (disaggregated by glycemic control) and compare with-non DM patients.

DOT or not? Direct observation of anti-tuberculosis treatment and patient outcomes, Kerala State, India.

Setting: The Pathanamthittha District of Kerala State, India, where the directly observed treatment, short-course (DOTS) programme was started in October 1994.

Objective: To determine the frequency with which direct observation actually occurred within a district-level DOTS programme, and the association of treatment observation with treatment outcome under programme conditions.

Design: This retrospective study included 200 consecutive, newly-detected, smear-positive patients registered under the project between February 1995 and February 1996 at the District Tuberculosis Centre, as well as health workers responsible for providing directly observed treatment (DOT) who were separately and confidentially interviewed.