Use of smokeless tobacco by patients with drug-sensitive pulmonary tuberculosis: The need for strengthening tuberculosis-tobacco collaborative in India.

Background A joint tuberculosis-tobacco collaborative was launched in India in 2017 to reduce the addictive habit of tobacco use among patients with tuberculosis (TB). We aimed to estimate the prevalence and predictors of smokeless tobacco use and its awareness among patients with pulmonary TB in Bhavnagar city, Gujarat, India. Methods We did a cross-sectional study among 258 randomly selected drug-sensitive pulmonary TB patients registered at the District TB Centre in Bhavnagar from April to October 2019.

A mixed-methods study on impact of active case finding on pulmonary tuberculosis treatment outcomes in India.

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health burden in India, with elimination targets set for 2025. Active case finding (ACF) is crucial for improving TB case detection rates, although conclusive evidence of its association with treatment outcomes is lacking. Our study aims to investigate the impact of ACF on successful TB treatment outcomes among pulmonary TB patients in Gujarat, India, and explore why ACF positively impacts these outcomes.

Does Direct Benefit Transfer Improve Outcomes Among People With Tuberculosis? - A Mixed-Methods Study on the Need for a Review of the Cash Transfer Policy in India.

Background: A direct benefit transfer (DBT) program was launched to address the dual epidemic of under-nutrition and tuberculosis (TB) in India. We conducted this study to determine whether non-receipt of DBT was associated with unfavorable treatment outcomes among patients with TB and to explore the perspectives of patients and program functionaries regarding the program.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective cohort study among 426 patients with drug-sensitive pulmonary TB on treatment during January-September 2019 to determine the association between non-receipt of DBT and unfavorable treatment outcomes, which was followed by in-depth interviews of 9 patients and 8 program functionaries to explore their perspectives on challenges and suggestions regarding the DBT program.

'We are not aware of notification of tuberculosis': A mixed-methods study among private practitioners from western India.

Background: Implementing the Standards for tuberculosis care in India (STCI) guidelines in the private sector is vital. This study attempted to estimate the knowledge and practices regarding STCI guidelines among private practitioners and to explore the reasons and solutions for low tuberculosis (TB) notification rates.

Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study for assessing the knowledge and practices of the STCI guidelines among 100 full-time allopathic private practitioners in Bhavnagar (in western part of India) from September 2018 to January 2019.

Adverse drug reactions and risk factors for discontinuation of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis regimens in Gujarat, western India.

Background: The predictors for discontinuation of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) regimens have not been studied in Gujarat. We aimed to find out the adverse drug reactions (ADRs) and predictors for discontinuation of MDR-TB regimens.

Methods: We conducted this cross-sectional study in Bhavnagar district of Gujarat from September to November 2016 through home visits and personal interviews of 94 patients with MDR-TB.

Costs incurred by patients with drug-susceptible pulmonary tuberculosis in semi-urban and rural settings of Western India.

Background: India reports the highest number of tuberculosis (TB) cases worldwide. Poverty has a dual impact as it increases the risk of TB and exposes the poor to economic hardship when they develop TB. Our objective was to estimate the costs incurred by patients with drug-susceptible TB in Bhavnagar (western India) using an adapted World Health Organization costing tool.