Piloting a Family Approach to Close the ART Gap in Mozambique

Overview

Through EGPAF’s CDC-funded Project DELTA, this assignment, building upon existing tuberculosis (TB)/HIV activities being conducted in Mozambique, aims to design and pilot an approach to improve case detection and management of TB and HIV among adults and children by strengthening contact tracing and follow-up for people residing in the households of someone with active TB disease. This approach will enhance care and treatment through comprehensive HIV testing and counseling and TB screening for all family members of persons diagnosed with TB. In addition it will include: 1) development of an electronic contact tracing register for implementing TB contact tracing and household HIV testing, 2) design and piloting of clinical referral and decision-making tools to guide clinicians toward prescription of TB treatment or IPT, and provision of HIV care and treatment as indicated, 3) approaches for support for families in navigating care for children exposed to TB, 4) piloting a feasible combination of specimens and tests for bacteriologic diagnosis of TB in children, and 5) sensitization and training of community health workers in pediatric TB, utilizing enhanced pediatric TB diagnosis and case management tools. This pilot study will provide information for the MOH and other stakeholders on the feasibility and effectiveness of household-based TB contact screening for TB and HIV and linkage to appropriate care in Mozambique.