Factors affecting applicability of "home-based interventional model" for active case finding among household contacts of index cases of pulmonary tuberculosis in Kashmir.

BACKGROUND

There are various biological, behavioural and social determinants associated with the epidemiology of pulmonary tuberculosis (P-TB) which have been extensively described in literature. Present study was conducted to know the influence of such factors on the "home-based interventional model" for active case finding among household contacts of index P-TB cases.

METHODS

In a quasi-randomized controlled interventional study, the "home-based interventional model" for active case finding was applied to index P-TB cases and their household contacts of interventional group of study subjects. Study was conducted from January 2014 to June 2015 for evaluation of the model in comparison to the existing usual practice of contact tracing. Baseline data regarding factors associated with epidemiology of P-TB likely to influence effectiveness of intervention were collected, collated and analysed.

RESULTS

The overall acceptance of intervention was 70.74% which was statically significantly influenced by gender (p<0.0001), age group (p=0.0006), education (p<0.0001), occupation (p<0.0001) and relationship of household contacts with index case (p<0.0001). Total 27 (4.51%) cases were detected among contacts. Out of personal and family level characteristics "relationship with index case" (p=0.0418) and "overcrowding in house" (p=0.0017) were found to statistically significantly influencing the effectiveness of interventional model. The prevalent risk factors for TB among contacts, level of exposer of household contacts to index cases, grade sputum positivity and type of index case were not found statistically significantly influencing the yield of interventional model.

CONCLUSION

Factors/determinants influencing the applicability of interventional model for active case finding among household contacts were identified and their impact on acceptance and yield of intervention was assessed.