Tuberculosis in Rural and Malnourished Populations

Launched by UNIVERSITY OF VIRGINIA · May 6, 2025

Keywords

ClinConnect Summary

This clinical trial is studying how to improve the screening and prevention of tuberculosis (TB) in households of people who have recently been diagnosed with the disease in rural Tanzania. TB is a serious health issue in this region, and many people remain undiagnosed. The researchers want to see if offering financial support, called conditional cash transfers, can help more families get screened for TB. They will also look at the nutrition status of these families to understand how undernutrition might affect their risk of developing active TB.

To participate in this study, individuals must be diagnosed with drug-sensitive pulmonary TB and start treatment within two months. They should live near the Haydom Lutheran Hospital and agree to be part of the study. If you join, you can expect visits to your home where researchers will help with TB screenings for everyone in your household and measure things like height and weight to assess nutrition. The study will last for three years, during which families will be monitored to see how many develop TB and how effective the financial support is in encouraging screenings. This research aims to find ways to better support high-risk communities in fighting TB.

Gender

ALL

Eligibility criteria

• Inclusion Criteria:
• • Index person/people diagnosed with drug sensitive pulmonary tuberculosis disease (PWTB) and starting TB treatment within 2 months of enrollment, of any age.
• • Index PWTB are eligible if they reside within the catchment area of Haydom Lutheran Hospital (HLH), and
• • Index PWTB intend to receive TB care at a participating study site.
• • Index PWTB (or their parent or guardian if index PWTB are \<18 years) and head of household (if different from index PWTB) are able and willing to provide informed consent.
• Exclusion Criteria:
• • Inability to provide informed consent, or assent when applicable.
• • Residing or receiving TB care outside of the catchment area of study sites
• • Prior completion of TB screening procedures for all household members.