90%
90 percent of children enrolled in the TITI study were started on preventive therapy.
A Union-led observational study evaluating systematic investigation and preventive therapy for children within the NTP framework reached target enrolment of close to 2,000 children in four countries in francophone Africa. Staff conducted contact tracing in participating health centres, in which they surveyed patients with active TB and conducted home visits to find out if the patient shared a home with any children under five years of age. Through this process, 90 percent of the children enrolled were started on preventive therapy. Approximately five percent of the children were diagnosed with active TB and treated.
The preventive treatment is based on a three-month regimen using the new paediatric formulations combining isoniazid and rifampicin recommended by the WHO in three of the four participating countries (Burkina Faso, Cameroon and Central African Republic) and a six-month isoniazid treatment in the fourth (Benin). The children with active TB were treated according to the directives of each country’s NTP.
The study, Investigated Transmission of Child Tuberculosis (TITI, for its initials in French), was conducted with funding from Initiative 5%/Expertise-France. Preliminary results are expected to be presented in 2018.
Membership news
MATERNAL-CHILD TB WORKING GROUP Continued to promote awareness and support funding for research into issues of maternal and child TB. The group developed advocacy materials, coordinated symposia at the Union World Conference and hosted a webinar titled ‘TB across the Life Cycle’.
