Cost and Cost-effectiveness of PTB+ Treatment in Southern Ethiopia

Improving Community Based TB Care in Southern Ethiopia Cost and Cost Effectiveness

Evidences for policy making and decision related to the cost of delivering tuberculosis (TB) control is lacking in Ethiopia. The investigators aimed to determine the cost and cost-effectiveness of involving health extension workers (HEWs) in TB treatment under the community-based initiative in Ethiopia.

Two treatment options were compared - health facility and community DOT. In 1995, Ethiopia adopted World Health Organization (WHO) recommended DOTS strategy for TB control. The treatment regimen for new smear-positive patients includes two months of ethambutol, rifampicin, isoniazid and pyrazinamide followed by six months of ethambutol and isoniazid. For children the continuation phase treatment was replaced by four months of rifampicin and isoniazid. Follow up sputum examinations were conducted at the end of 2, 5 and 7 months treatment.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Pulmonary tuberculosis suspects of any age and sex

Exclusion Criteria:

• Healthy individuals or non tuberculosis patients