Factors influencing the effectiveness of current contact tracing practice under Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme in Kashmir.

Dr Ghulam Hassan Khatana

Volume : V, Issue : VIII, August - 2016

Factors influencing the effectiveness of current contact tracing practice under Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme in Kashmir.

Dr Ghulam Hassan Khatana

Abstract :

BACKGROUND: Present study was conducted to find out the influence of factors affecting the detection of active Pulmonary TB cases among household contacts of Index Pulmonary TB patients. METHODS: Initial counselling and repeated counselling of Index cases regarding contact screening was done by MO–TCs and Paramedical staff. Contact register was maintained at TU–level with all demographic record of household contacts. Laboratory registers were consulted for recording contact screening activities by sputum microscopy RESULTS: Out of total 593 eligible household contacts of 141 Index cases, 129 (21.75%) reported to DMCs for sputum test and total 7 (1.18%) co–prevalent cases were diagnosed. Majority of demographic characteristics of household contacts and sources of referral of household contacts to DMCs were found statistically significantly influencing the effectiveness of current practice of contact tracing under RNTCP.CONCLUSION: At TB–Unit level, RNTCP functions should be assigned as fulltime job responsibility of MO–TC so that contact tracing and other activities does not suffer adversely by various factors.