A programme evaluation of the effects of an intensified TB screening strategy on changes in facility level TB case finding in City Health PHC facilities in Cape Town

Abstract

Background: In South Africa, tuberculosis (TB) detection remains a major problem, as notified cases are estimated to account for only 68% of all incident cases. Health services have relied on passive case finding and this leads to missed or delayed diagnosis. In Cape Town, City Health has embarked on an active surveillance programme to systematically screen all adults seeking health care at PHC facilities for active TB, in order to identify undiagnosed incident TB cases and avert missed opportunities for treating TB. Aim: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of an intensified TB screening strategy on changes in facility level TB case finding in City Health PHC facilities in Cape Town.