Treatment outcomes and challenges of treating tuberculosis in children in a nomadic pastoralist community in Kenya

Abstract

Background: Tuberculosis in children has remained a major cause of childhood morbidity and mortality, especially in the developingcountries where it has been associated with marginalization, vulnerability and poverty.Study objectives: To evaluate treatment outcomes and determine the challenges experienced by health providers while treating tuberculosis in children in a nomadic pastoralist community in Kenya.Methods: This was a descriptive cross sectional study design utilizing mixed methods, conducted at Lodwar County Referral Hospital in Turkana County- Kenya. We utilized census sampling method to get 59 medical records and 8 nurses. Data were collected using data abstraction form and in-depth interviews. Treatment outcomes were determined quantitatively while challenges were described qualitatively using thematic approach.Results: A total of 59 paediatric patients had been diagnosed with tuberculosis between the months of January 2021 and April 2021. Most of them were new cases. Children who were under five years constituted the highest proportion (61%). Most of the patients had completed their treatment (69.5%), loss to follow up 6.8%, transferred out 11.9%, died 8.5% while those who were not evaluated were 3.4%. Lifestyle and habit, lack of system support and lack of properly formulated dosage for children were the challenges experienced by the health care providers.Conclusion: Although, most of the patients (69.5%) had completed their treatment, treatment complete rate remained below the standard set by the World Health Organisation (90%). Health system posed most of the challenges experienced by the health care providers at the hospital.