Losses along the tuberculosis sputum sample referral cascade for Mpongwe District, Zambia

• DOI: 10.4102/phcfm.v15i1.3710
• Publication Date: 2023-02-22T05:54:18Z
• Authors: Lyson Nkhoma; Josphat Bwembya; Edwin Chansa; Ramya Kumar; Ibou Thior; Victoria Musonda; Gershom Chongwe; Alwyn Mwinga
• Keywords: diagnosis; Zambia; 03 medical and health sciences; 0302 clinical medicine; examination; Humans; Tuberculosis; Referral and Consultation; diagnosis.; Original Research; Retrospective Studies; R; Sputum; sputum; sample; losses; cascade; 3. Good health; tuberculosis; Medicine; referral; Public aspects of medicine; RA1-1270

Background: In resource limited-settings, timely tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis depends upon referral of sputum samples from non-diagnostic to diagnostic facilities for examination. The TB programme data 2018 suggested losses in Mpongwe District’s cascade.Aim: This study aimed identify the cascade stage where loss specimen occurred.Setting: Primary health care District, Copperbelt Province, Zambia.Methods: Data were retrospectively collected one central laboratory and six referring between January June 2019, using a paper-based tracking sheet. Descriptive statistics generated SPSS version 22.Results: Of 328 presumptive pulmonary patients found registers at facilities, 311 (94.8%) submitted referred facilities. these, 290 (93.2%) received laboratory, 275 examined. remaining 15 (5.2%) rejected reasons such as ‘insufficient sample’. Results all examined sent back Referral completion rate was 88.4%. Median turnaround time days (IQR = 1.8).Conclusion: Losses District mainly occurred dispatch receipt facility. Health Office needs establish system monitor evaluate movement along minimize ensure diagnosis.Contribution: has highlighted, primary level limited settings, sample occur.