Effectiveness and challenges associated with the symptoms-based
screening tool for active tuberculosis case finding in outpatient
departments in healthcare facilities in Ghana
Abstract
Background: Successful active surveillance for infectious disease leads
to increased case detection and better management outcomes. Because of
that, the National Tuberculosis Programme (NTP), Ghana introduced
Symptoms-Based Screening (SBS) Tool for TB case finding. Despite these
efforts, Ghana has not achieved the 10% target of TB screening in all
out-patient departments attendees as recommended by the NTP. Therefore,
this study determined the challenges and limitations of the SBS Tool
used for active tuberculosis case finding in Ghana. Methods: This study
targeted presumptive TB patients resident in Ho Municipality, Ghana.
Presumptive TB patients, recruited from Ho Teaching and Ho Municipal
Hospitals, were screened with the SBS tool and presumed TB patients
tested for M. tuberculosis using microscopy and positive samples
confirmed by geneXpert technique. Also health personnel were interviewed
to assess the user-friendliness, challenges and limitations associated
with the SBS tool. Chi square association of categorical data was done
by STATA version 14.1. P-values <0.05 was considered
statistically significant. Results: From both hospitals, 636 presumptive
patients and 24 health workers participated in this study. Of the total
patients screened, 1.73% had active tuberculosis. Coughing for
> 2 weeks (x2=24.8; p<0.05); chest pains
(x2=28.3; p<0.01) and night sweat (x2=34.8; p<0.05)
associated significantly with M. tuberculosis infection status. The main
challenge associated with the SBS tool was its unfriendliness for
administration while lack of enough indicators to identify other
vulnerable individuals to TB (diabetics, cigarette smokers, alcoholics,
immunocompromised and malnourished individuals) limited the sensitivity
of the tool. Conclusion: The SBS tool was found not to be sensitive
enough to identify infected cases. Inclusion of signs and symptoms of
diabetes, immuno-suppression and malnutrition in the current tool and
subsequent training of all relevant health personnel on the use of the
tool could contribute to increase the sensitivity of the tool.