A community-based isoniazid preventive therapy for the prevention of childhood tuberculosis in Ethiopia.

Background: Although children in contact with adults with tuberculosis (TB) should receive isoniazid (INH) preventive therapy (IPT), this is rarely implemented.

Objective: To assess whether a community-based approach to provide IPT at the household level improves uptake and adherence in Ethiopia.

Methods: Contacts of adults with smear-positive pulmonary TB (PTB+) were visited at home and examined by health extension workers (HEWs). Asymptomatic children aged <5 years were offered IPT and followed monthly.

Results: Of 6161 PTB+ cases identified by HEWs in the community, 5345 (87%) were visited, identifying 24 267 contacts, 7226 (29.8%) of whom were children aged <15 years and 3102 (12.7%) were aged <5 years; 2949 contacts had symptoms of TB and 1336 submitted sputum for examination. Ninety-two (6.9%) were PTB+ and 169 had TB all forms. Of 3027 asymptomatic children, only 1761 were offered (and accepted) IPT due to INH shortage. Of these, 1615 (91.7%) completed the 6-month course. The most frequent reason for discontinuing IPT was INH shortage.

Conclusion: Contact tracing contributed to the detection of additional TB cases and provision of IPT in young children. IPT delivery in the community alongside community-based TB interventions resulted in better acceptance and improved treatment outcome.