Current Integration of Tuberculosis

• Published in: PloS one 2013-03, Vol.8 (3), p.e57791
• Main Authors: Chehab, Joel C, Vilakazi-Nhlapo, Amanda K, Vranken, Peter, Peters, Annatjie, Klausner, Jeffrey D
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Care and treatment; Forecasts and trends; Health facilities; HIV infections; Management; Public health administration; Tuberculosis
• ISSN: 1932-6203; 1932-6203
• DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0057791

Public Health Facilities in South Africa. To assess the current integration of TB and HIV services in South Africa, 2011. Cross-sectional study of 49 randomly selected health facilities in South Africa. Trained interviewers administered a standardized questionnaire to one staff member responsible for TB and HIV in each facility on aspects of TB/HIV policy, integration and recording and reporting. We calculated and compared descriptive statistics by province and facility type. Of the 49 health facilities 35 (71%) provided isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) and 35 (71%) offered antiretroviral therapy (ART). Among assessed sites in February 2011, 2,512 patients were newly diagnosed with HIV infection, of whom 1,913 (76%) were screened for TB symptoms, and 616 of 1,332 (46%) of those screened negative for TB were initiated on IPT. Of 1,072 patients newly registered with TB in February 2011, 144 (13%) were already on ART prior to Tb clinical diagnosis, and 451 (42%) were newly diagnosed with HIV infection. Of those, 84 (19%) were initiated on ART. Primary health clinics were less likely to offer ART compared to district hospitals or community health centers (p