Challenges for tuberculosis control during the COVID-19 pandemic (search up to December 2020)
Citation: Chapman HJ, Veras-Estévez BA. Lessons Learned During the COVID-19 Pandemic to Strengthen TB Infection Control: A Rapid Review. Global Health: Science and Practice. 2021;9(4):964-77.
Language: Abstract and full text available in EN.
Free to view: Yes.
Funding sources: Nothing noted.
What is this? Understanding the challenges for tuberculosis (TB) control efforts in low- and middle-income countries (LMICs) during the COVID-19 pandemic may help strengthen health system preparedness.
In this rapid review, the authors searched for original articles, reviews, commentaries and letters describing the impacts on TB control efforts in LMICs during the COVID-19 pandemic. They restricted their searches to articles published between 1 January and 31 December 2020 without language restrictions and did the search on 10 January 2021. They included 4 letters, 9 perspectives, 5 reviews and 2 original research articles concerning the TB burden in Africa (8), Asia (2) and globally (10).
What was found: Four main themes on challenges in TB control during the COVID-19 pandemic were identified: unprepared health system leadership and infrastructure, coexisting health priorities, insufficient health care workforce support and weak connections to primary health centers resulting in interrupted community-based programs.
Four main themes on recommendations to strengthen TB prevention and control were identified: ensuring leadership and governance for sustainable national health budgets, building networks of community stakeholders, supporting healthcare worker training and safe workplace environments and using digital health interventions for TB care.
Implications: The authors of the review concluded that national health systems should promote patient-centered TB care, implement ethical community interventions, support operational research and integrate appropriate digital interventions. They stated that program managers who understand challenges in TB prevention and control with coexisting health priorities can serve as instrumental leaders and patient advocates.
Other considerations: The authors of the review discussed their findings in the context place of residence and education.
This summary was prepared by Yasmeen Saeed and finalized by Mike Clarke.