Are the statistical data from Benin's National Tuberculosis Programme reliable?

SETTING

The National Tuberculosis Programme (NTP) of Benin, West Africa.

OBJECTIVE

To verify the accuracy of the data published by the NTP in terms of notified cases and treatment results.

DESIGN

Purposeful selection of nine basic management units (BMUs) that had declared zero tuberculosis (TB) patients lost to follow-up in the first three quarters of 2006. Retrospective onsite survey by independent teams based on the documents kept at the BMUs, on the data transmitted to and compiled at the central level and on home interviews with patients who had been declared treatment successes.

RESULTS

Of the 446 cases evaluated, there was excellent agreement between the TB register and the TB treatment card, between the TB register and the quarterly reports and between the TB register and the laboratory register. Home interviews with 32 patients all confirmed the information contained in the treatment cards and the TB register.

CONCLUSION

The results published by the NTP of Benin are remarkably reliable.