Trends in childhood tuberculosis in Zambia: A situation analysis

Nathan Kapata, Pascalina Chanda-Kapata, Justin O'Grady, Matthew Bates, Peter Mwaba, Saskia Janssen, Ben Marais, Frank Cobelens, Martin Grobusch, Alimuddin Zumla

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13 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objectives: To ascertain childhood tuberculosis (TB) trends, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) co-infection rates and multi-drug resistant TB (MDR-TB) prevalence rates in Zambia.

Methods: A retrospective review of Zambian annual TB notification data and National TB Programme reports for a 7 year period (2004–2011). TB trends were stratified by age and HIV status.

Results: The total number of children notified during this period with all forms of TB was 40 976. A total of 2670 of 40 976 (6%) were smear-positive cases. Notification rates of all forms of childhood TB show a decline in trends from 135 per 100 000 population in 2004, to 69 per 100 000 population in 2011.

Conclusions: Childhood TB is an important but neglected problem in Zambia highlighted by the fact that no data exists on HIV co-infection and MDR-TB. Strengthening of the National TB Programme and diagnostics services/algorithms are required to accurately define the TB burden, HIV co-infection and MDR-TB rates in children in Zambia.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)134-139
Number of pages6
JournalJournal of Tropical Pediatrics
Volume59
Issue number2
Early online date12 Dec 2012
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2013

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