WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region Research Articles

Media reporting of violence against children in the Eastern Mediterranean Region during the early days of COVID-19 pandemic

Background: Violence against children constitutes a significant public health problem globally. Aim: To document and compare media reports of violence against children before and during COVID-19, and measures taken by countries to address such violence. Methods: This comparative review covered news reports of violence against children from 1 January to 30 June of 2019 and 2020 in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region countries. A total of 823 articles published in Arabic and English, covering incidents, initiatives, opinions and views on all types of violence among children under 18 years of age were sourced using search engines and platforms and reviewed. News on incidents was analysed quantitatively while news on initiatives and opinions was analysed qualitatively. Results: Some 40.3% of the news reports was on incidents, followed by interviews or opinions (31.5%) and initiatives (28.2%). There were 1129 reports of violence against children from 1 January to 30 June of 2019 and 1880 for the same period in 2020. Reports of physical violence increased from 34% in 2019 to 40% in 2020, while reports of sexual violence decreased from 45% in 2019 to 37% in 2020. Views and opinion reports showed 0.4–1.1% alignment with the 7 INSPIRE strategies. Conclusion: The COVID-19 pandemic affected the incidence and reporting of violence against children across the region. It is essential to provide accurate and sensitive media coverage for incidences of violence against children so that survivors and at-risk children can receive adequate support and ensure that communities can tackle it appropriately

Prevalence, correlates, and trends of intimate partner violence against women in Pakistan: Results from Pakistan Demographic and Health surveys 2012-13 and 2017-18.

Intimate partner violence (IPV) is a global public health problem. The objectives of this study were to analyze the prevalence and correlates of IPV perpetrated by men against women from the recent nationally representative Pakistan Demographic and Health Survey (PDHS) 2017-18, and to analyze levels and trends of IPV perpetrated by current/former husbands from PDHS conducted in 2012-13, in the four provinces and the capital city. Association of having ever experienced IPV, defined as either emotional, physical and/or sexual violence, by ever married women aged 15-49, with 12 explanatory socio-demographic, attitudinal, and experiences were analyzed using simple and multiple logistic regression models. The prevalence of having ever experienced IPV was 33.48% (95% CI: 30.76-36.32). In the final multivariable model, number of living children, having knowledge of parental physical IPV, husband's use of alcohol, and marital control were statistically significantly associated with IPV. Proportions and trend analysis of emotional and physical IPV between the PDHS 2017-18 and PDHS 2012-13, showed that in general, rural areas of provinces reported higher prevalence of emotional and physical IPV, compared with urban areas, and in general, emotional, and physical IPV prevalence declined from PDHS2012-13 to PDHS2017-18. The prevalence of having experienced physical and/or sexual intimate partner violence in Pakistan was lower than the prevalence for the WHO Eastern Mediterranean region. However, IPV burden at the provincial urban-rural residency status underscore the need for location specific strategies to effectively address IPV in Pakistan.

Country uptake of WHO recommendations on differentiated HIV testing services approaches: a global policy review

ObjectivesIn 2015 and 2016, WHO issued guidelines on HIV testing services (HTS) highlighting recommendations for a strategic mix of differentiated HTS approaches. The policy review examines the uptake of differentiated...

Paediatric oncology in the Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR): the current state and challenges.

The WHO Eastern Mediterranean region (EMR) is characterised by highly economically diverse countries, with healthcare systems in various phases of development. Childhood cancer care provision also ranges from that provided in centres able to deliver sophisticated therapy resulting in outcomes comparable to those seen in highly developed nations, to countries with no provision for care of children with cancer. At 10·1 per 100,000 children at risk, the age standardised incidence-rate for cancer in children below 14 years of age is relatively low but may be consequent to poor registration. Shortages in trained care providers were identified in many regional countries, particularly in low and lower-middle income countries, however, implementation of training programs are beginning to counter this deficit. Significant diversity in patient care capacity exists in the region, leading to inequitable access to quality paediatric oncology care. There is strong potential for regional collaboration towards infrastructure and capacity improvement, with facilities available within the EMR for twinning and educational support to those centres and countries that need them. While cancer care coverage is available to citizens of high-income countries, in the lower-income countries out-of-pocket health expenditure can reach 75%. Some relief is achieved through the contribution of multiple charitable foundations working to support childhood cancer care in the region, as well as the provision of care in, often overburdened, public sector hospitals. War and other geo-political turmoil, as well as natural disasters, have negatively impacted healthcare capacity, including childhood cancer care, in several regional countries. Despite all this, the trajectory for change is upward and initiatives such as the WHO Global Initiative for Childhood Cancer are igniting positive change.

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on the well-being, work conditions, and education of early career psychiatrists in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region: study protocol.

The COVID-19 pandemic placed great strain on healthcare professionals, leading to a substantial impact and a redistribution of the workforce. Despite the active involvement of the Eastern Mediterranean Region Office (EMRO) and the World Health Organization in managing mental health crises, there is a knowledge gap concerning the working conditions and training opportunities available for early career psychiatrists (ECPs) during the pandemic period. This study aims to investigate the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on ECPs and how it affected their well-being, employment, and educational opportunities. A mixed methods study has been conducted in Iran, Egypt, and Tunisia, three EMRO member countries. It includes a cross-sectional survey with self-reported questions, and a qualitative study with individual in-depth interviews. The findings of this study will raise awareness to the working conditions of ECPs within the EMRO region and its member societies, both during the COVID-19 pandemic and beyond. The results will serve as a basis for encouraging supervisors and policymakers to mitigate the pandemic's impact on psychiatric training, strengthen healthcare systems' preparedness, and equip early career psychiatrists with the necessary skills to deal with the mental health consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic.

A phased strengthening of laboratory capacity in the Eastern Mediterranean Region during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) faces ongoing challenges in its public health system due to limited resources, logistical issues, and political disruptions. The COVID-19 pandemic accelerated the need for stronger laboratory capacities to handle the increased demand for testing. In a phased response, EMR countries utilized the National Influenza Centers to rapidly establish and scale molecular testing for SARS-CoV-2, the causative agent of COVID-19. The expansion of capacity included strong collaborations between public health bodies and private and academic sectors to decentralize and expand testing to the subnational level. To ensure that the quality of testing was not impacted by rapid expansion, national and subnational laboratories were enrolled in external quality assurance programs for the duration of the response. Implementation of genomic surveillance was prioritized for variant tracking, leading to the establishment of regional sequencing reference laboratories and the distribution of MinION sequencing platforms to complex emergency countries who previously had limited experience with pathogen sequencing. Challenges included a lack of technical expertise, including in implementing novel diagnostic assays and sequencing, a lack of bioinformatics expertise in the region, and significant logistical and procurement challenges. The collaborative approach, coordinated through the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office, enabled all 22 countries to achieve SARS-CoV-2 diagnostic capabilities, highlighting the pivotal role of laboratories in global health security.

Commitment, partnerships and operational research: three priorities for 11 EMR countries to achieve TB elimination

BACKGROUND: In 2022, 11 of 22 Member States of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) had an estimated TB incidence of <20 cases per 100,000 population. We assessed preparedness for elimination and provided recommendations to pursue the process.METHODS: We surveyed 11 EMR national TB programme managers and collected information on eight TB elimination framework domains using a close-ended data collection tool. We compiled, consolidated and validated data, including a virtual consultation before triangulating data with other sources.RESULTS: Implementation was sufficient (≥74%) for 5 of 8 domains, highest for TB infection management, TB preventive treatment, laboratory service, drug management, drug-resistant TB and TB-HIV collaboration (89%, 83% and 78%, respectively). Countries ranked lowest for commitment (73%), operational research and infection control (63%), and partnership/collaborations (41%). Five countries reached >80% when consolidating the responses, reaching sufficient from all domains. Two reached <50%.CONCLUSION: Key identified obstacles to TB elimination in EMR were insufficient commitment/financing, suboptimal partnerships/collaborations and operational research calling for 1) all-stakeholder-inclusive, sustainably funded TB elimination plans, 2) cost-effective tools to exchange strategic information and build operational research capacity, and 3) improved collaboration.

Systematic review and meta-analysis of verbal and physical violence against healthcare workers in the Eastern Mediterranean Region.

Workplace violence is a serious threat to healthcare workers worldwide. We aimed to determine the prevalence of physical and verbal violence against healthcare workers in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region and Türkiye. We searched the Medline (via PubMed), Cochrane Library, Scopus, Science Direct, Web of Science and ProQuest databases along with reference lists from selected articles. Studies of health workers exposed to verbal and/or physical violence by patients or their relatives conducted in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region and Türkiye among staff working in hospitals and primary health care services were included. Seventy-five of the 3513 articles identified of studies conducted during 1999-2021 were eligible. The data were analysed using MetaXL version 5.3 and STATA version 16. This study covered 69 024 healthcare workers from 22 countries. Meta-analysis showed that 63.0% (95% CI: 46.7- 79.2) of them had experienced verbal violence and 17.0% (95.0% CI: 14.0-21.0) experienced physical violence. There was no significant difference for sample size, professional group, quality score, or response rate. The frequency of physical and verbal violence in the subgroup analysis was statistically significantly different for countries and years. Findings from this study provide useful information for policymaking regarding interventions to prevent or minimize violence against healthcare workers in the Eastern Mediterranean Region and Türkiye.

P‐PH‐6 | Regulating Blood Systems in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region

P‐PH‐6 | Regulating Blood Systems in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region

A BRIGHTER TOMORROW: PRIORITIZING CHILD AND ADOLESCENT MENTAL HEALTH IN PAKISTAN

ABSTRACT There is a crucial need for recognising children and adolescents as an integral part of society, especially in a nation with a significant youth demographic. Pakistan's 280 million population, includes 100 million youth, and require urgent investment in mental well-being, particularly addressing psychiatric disorders like depression and anxiety, especially for women, whose welfare is often neglected.At present, Pakistan has an alarming shortage of psychiatrists, with one of the lowest numbers in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region. Despite existing policies, there is a clear lack of tailored laws addressing the specific needs of children and adolescents. The efforts made by organisations like the College of Physicians and Surgeons Pakistan and Sindh Mental Health Authority are acknowledged, but nonetheless, there is a pressing need for a robust policy. The progress made by neighbouring countries in formulating and implementing mental health policies, particularly emphasising the importance of mental health within a holistic healthcare system, is noteworthy.An emphasis has been laid on the urgency of the situation, advocating for prompt action, comprehensive policies, and unwavering commitment. The proposed future directions include a call to actively prioritise the mental well-being of youth to shape a brighter future for Pakistan.

Seroprevalence, Risk Factors and Maternal-Fetal Outcomes of Toxoplasma gondii in Pregnant Women from WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

The protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii may cause serious illness in the immunocompromised. The Toxoplasma gondii seropositive prevalence in pregnant women in WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region countries is inconsistent in the literature and it is associated with outcomes that have not be fully elucidated, hence the need for a better understanding of the pooled seroprevalence and associated maternal and fetal outcomes. The objective was to conduct a systematic literature review and determine the pooled prevalence of WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional countries' pregnant women's seroprevalence of Toxoplasma gondii and the maternal-fetal outcomes. This quantitative study examined WHO Eastern Mediterranean countries' maternal-fetal outcomes and Toxoplasma gondii prevalence in pregnant women. The targeted population was pregnant women, while the primary outcome was seropositivity of Toxoplasma gondii, while other outcomes such as maternal and fetal associations and risk factors were determined PubMed, SCOPUS, MEDLINE, and Index Medicus for the Eastern Mediterranean Region (IMEMR) databases were searched up until 30 January 2023. The search terms used were "Toxoplasma gondii" OR "Toxoplasma infection" AND "Pregnant woman" or pregnan* OR Antenatal OR Prenatal OR Gravidity OR Parturition OR Maternal AND WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region). OpenMeta-Analyst and Jamovi were used to analyze the generated data. In total, 95 of 2947 articles meeting the inclusion criteria examined Toxoplasma gondii prevalence in pregnant women from WHO Eastern Mediterranean countries. The pooled prevalence of Toxoplasma gondii in pregnant women was 36.5% (95%CI: 32.6-40.4) with a median value of 35.64%, range values of 1.38-75.30%, with 99.61% heterogeneity. The pooled seroprevalence of IgG of Toxoplasma gondii was 33.5% (95%CI: 29.8-37.2) with a median value of 33.51%, and a range values of 1.38-69.92%; the pooled seroprevalence of IgM was 3.6% (95%CI: 3.1-4.1)) with a median value of 3.62 and range values of 0.20-17.47%, while cases of pooled seroprevalence of both IgG and IgM positivity was 3.0% (95%CI: 1.9-4.4) with a median value of 2.05 and a range values of 0.05-16.62%. Of the Toxoplasma gondii seropositive women, 1281/3389 (34.8%) 174/1765 (32.9%), 1311/3101 (43.7%), and 715/1683 (40.8%) of them had contact with cats, drank unprocessed milk, ate raw or undercooked meat and ate unwashed raw vegetables, respectively. The maternal-fetal outcomes associated with Toxoplasma gondii seropositivity were a history of abortions, miscarriage, stillbirth, intrauterine fetal death, and premature birth, which were found in 868/2990 (32.5%), 112/300 (36.1%), 111/375 (25.7%), 3/157 (1.9%) and 96/362 (20.1%) of women who tested positive for Toxoplasma gondii antibodies. The study found a high proportion of Toxoplasma gondii seroprevalence in pregnant women in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, which may be linked to poor outcomes for mothers and their babies. Thus, pregnant women require monitoring and comprehensive prevention strategies for Toxoplasma gondii infection.

Self-care intervention using mobile apps for sexual and reproductive health in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region

ABSTRACTSexual and reproductive health (SRH) concerns physical, mental, and social well-being as related to sexual and reproductive systems. Self-care, which is the ability to promote health without the support of a health-care provider, can advance SRH, especially for fragile populations. Mobile health (mHealth) solutions can be used to raise awareness about SRH. We performed a structured literature review and analysis of mHealth-based approaches for delivering self-SRH services and interventions in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR). A fuzzy-based framework for assessing those mHealth apps was proposed. We identified 6 out of 737 papers, and 23 (5.7%) out of 400 mHealth apps retrieved from app-stores, describing mHealth use for self SRH with only 10 apps developed in EMR countries, namely Morocco, Pakistan, Egypt, Iran, and Jordan. Our fuzzy-based framework proposes guidelines regarding the implementation of self-care interventions to help project leaders promote their adoption in the SRH systems.

Time to scale up testing and treatment for HBV and HCV in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region

Time to scale up testing and treatment for HBV and HCV in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region

Prevalence of injecting drug use and HIV, hepatitis B, and hepatitis C in people who inject drugs in the Eastern Mediterranean region: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Considerable disease burden is attributed to injecting drug use (IDU). This regional systematic review and meta-analysis aimed to assess the prevalence of IDU and the characteristics of people who inject drugs in the 22 countries of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean region. We conducted a systematic review and meta-analysis on the prevalence of IDU, estimation of the population size of people who inject drugs, the characteristics of people who inject drugs, commonly injected drugs, the prevalence of HIV, hepatitis C virus, and hepatitis B virus in people who inject drugs, and opioid agonist treatment and needle and syringe programme services. We searched PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, Embase, and the Index Medicus for the Eastern Mediterranean Region for documents published between Jan 1, 2010, and April 17, 2022, with no language restrictions. We also searched government reports, civil society information, and UN websites and databases for grey literature published between Jan 1, 2010, and April 17, 2022. Documents were eligible if they reported or estimated an indicator of interest, or reported enough data to permit calculation of the indicator. We extracted data from the eligible documents and calculated national and regional estimates. We identified 38 283 documents and included 201 documents in the systematic review. A total of 115 documents were included for the four outcomes for which meta-analyses were performed. The number of people who inject drugs was estimated as 864 597 (95% CI 641 909-1 205 255), amounting to a prevalence of 20·0 per 10 000 adults (95% CI 14·9-27·9) in the region. Among people who inject drugs, the prevalence of HIV was estimated as 19·22% (95% CI 12·86-26·36), hepatitis C virus as 44·82% (29·32-61·16), and hepatitis B virus as 2·66% (0·84-7·26). Countries varied greatly regarding the variables of interest and the availability of relevant data. Nine countries provided needle and syringe programme services and seven countries provided opioid agonist treatment services, mostly with very low, low, or unclear coverage. The prevalence of IDU in the Eastern Mediterranean region is lower than the global mean, particularly among women. The HIV infection rate is higher than the global mean, and the hepatitis C virus infection rate is lower than the global mean. Harm-reduction services are underdeveloped. Data collection on IDU and provision of services need improvement in the region. World Health Organization. For the Arabic, Farsi and French translations of the abstract see Supplementary Materials section.

Improved leprosy elimination efforts in Somalia, 2015–2021: achievements in a challenging environment and the way forward

Background Since leprosy was eliminated as a public health problem in 2000, trends in case detection have been declining. However, from 2015, case detection in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean (EM) region increased mainly due to reports from Somalia that re-instated the national programme. As Somalia reported 57% of new cases in the EM region in 2021, we reviewed the national control programme activities and the characteristics of reported cases to understand leprosy transmission in the country. Methods From 2012 to 2021, we extracted data from WHO’s Global Health Observatory and the national leprosy control programme’s patient register in Somalia. From 2015 onwards, leprosy cases were detected by the Federal Ministry of Health through mobile teams conducting “skin camps” in 47 districts across seven regions. We analyzed data to describe the overall case detection rate and rates per period, place and person, including severity measured by grade two disability (G2D) and multibacillary (MB) cases. Results The overall case detection rate increased 11-fold between 2012 and 2021, from 6 cases per million in 2012 to 106 cases per million in 2021 in females and from 16 cases per million in 2012 to 132 cases per million in 2021 in males. Case detection among children under 15-years of age also increased from 4 cases per million in 2012 to 13 cases per million in 2021. Initially, the proportion of MB cases and G2D at the time of diagnosis increased from 60% and 11% in 2012 to 87% and 42% in 2015 respectively, when the national programme resumed leprosy control activities. By 2021, the MB proportion decreased to 45% and G2D proportion also decreased to 2%. From 2015 to 2021, four regions in Somalia reported 77% of the new cases and 83% of cases with G2D: Lower Shabelle, Middle Juba, Lower Juba and Middle Shabelle. Conclusion “Skin-camps” for case detection were effective in finding hidden leprosy cases and reducing the delay in diagnosis over time. The constant case detection rate among the female population, equal to the male population, points to sufficient programme reach. However, low disability rates persisted among this population which could be due to continued underlying stigma. Reports of new cases among children suggest ongoing transmission requiring prevention strategies such as single dose rifampicin post-exposure prophylaxis.

An overview of Iran's actions in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and in building health system resilience.

This article is part of the Research Topic 'Health Systems Recovery in the Context of COVID-19 and Protracted Conflict'. The considerable human, social, and economic impacts of COVID-19 have demonstrated a global lack of health system resilience, highlighting gaps in health system capacities due to fragmented approaches to health system financing, planning, and implementation. One of the key actions for ensuring equitable essential health services in all countries in normal situations as well as emergencies is through strengthening the primary healthcare (PHC) system. In the context of the unfolding pandemic, the Iranian Ministry of Health and Medical Education (MoHME) undertook a variety of strategic actions to ensure the sustainability of health services during the current health emergency and to promote health system resilience against future shocks. Right after the Alma-Ata declaration in 1978, MoHME pursued the PHC philosophy incorporating the principles within the WHO health system framework and its six building blocks. In response to the evolving pandemic, MoHME put in place several interventions to ensure the maintenance of essential health services in addition to the provision of response. Some interventions were new, informed by global experience with COVID-19, while others leveraged existing strengths within the existing health system. Those were taking a whole-of-government approach; leveraging the PHC capacity; supporting the workforce; strengthening preparedness and response; improving access to medicines, vaccines, and health products; and leveraging the health information system into the pandemic response. Health system strengthening that promotes resilience is imperative for governments as health systems are fundamental to sustainable socioeconomic development. In recognition of this, the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Regional Office (EMRO) has recently outlined regional priorities for advancing universal health coverage (UHC) and ensuring health security. Iran's approach both prior to and during the pandemic is strongly aligned with those regional priorities, which are "primary health care-oriented models; enhancing health workforce; promoting equity; enabling environment for research; improving access to countermeasures; and fostering health system resilience."

External quality assessment of laboratory performance in bacteriology in the Eastern Mediterranean Region, 2011-2019.

Since 2007, national public health laboratories in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region (EMR) have participated in a regional external quality assessment scheme in bacteriology to improve testing proficiency. To assess laboratory performance in bacteriology in the EMR between 2011 and 2019 using the regional external quality assessment scheme. We analysed the accuracy of participant-reported data in bacterial identification, Gram stain microscopy, and antimicrobial susceptibility testing. For each category, we assessed the performance over time, the performance on multiple organisms, and whether a laboratory repeatedly failed to attain satisfactory results. Between 2011 and 2019, 70% of laboratories achieved satisfactory performance for bacterial identification and antimicrobial susceptibility testing, and 85% performed satisfactory Gram stain microscopy. Testing did not improve on multiple organisms and results were consistently low for some pathogens and test categories. Twenty-nine percent of laboratories underperformed throughout the study period. The unchanged performance over time and underperformance of laboratories highlight the need for improvements in the regional external quality assessment scheme. Participating laboratories and WHO need to work more actively to strengthen the problem areas.

Vision 2023: midterm push forward plan for Health for All by All in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region

Vision 2023: midterm push forward plan for Health for All by All in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region

Trends in pharmaceutical opioid consumption in the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region, 2010-2019.

Pharmaceutical opioid consumption has been increasing worldwide, but disparities in access to these medications exist. Few countries of the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region have well defined pain management policies. This study presents trends in the consumption of pharmaceutical opioids in the 22 countries in the Eastern Mediterranean Region from 2010 to 2019, with comparative intra- and extra-regional analyses; the correlation between pharmaceutical opioid consumption and human development index rankings; and pharmaceutical opioids use in the region. We calculated the defined daily doses for statistical purposes (S-DDD) per million inhabitants per day of pharmaceutical opioids from 2010 to 2019, and used the mixed effects models to assess changes in consumption. We used regression analyses to establish the strength of associations between human development index level and consumption in the region and elsewhere. Pharmaceutical opioid use has fluctuated in the region since 2010, with a mean sum of S-DDD of 2547 for 2010-2019. Consumption is relatively low in the region irrespective of the human development index. The highest-consuming country reported 369 S-DDD in 2019 and the lowest reported 1 S-DDD. The most used pharmaceutical opioids in the region were fentanyl, morphine, pethidine, oxycodone, and codeine. Consumption could be considered inadequate in several countries of the region. Supporting these countries to improve collection and reporting of consumption data, and providing humanitarian assistance to enhance access to pain relief, should be a priority for the international community.

Deep learning to predict Pulmonary Tuberculosis from Lung Posterior Chest Radiographs

Tuberculosis is one of the most dangerous health conditions on the globe. As it affects the human body, tuberculosis is an infectious illness. According to the World Health Organization, roughly 1.7 million individuals get TB throughout the course of their lifetimes. Pakistan ranks fifth among high-burden nations and is responsible for 61% of the TB burden within the WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region. Various methods and procedures exist for the early identification of TB. However, all methods and techniques have their limits. The bulk of currently known approaches for detecting TB rely on model-based segmentation of the lung. The primary purpose of the proposed study is to identify pulmonary TB utilising chest X-ray (Poster Anterior) lung pictures processed using image processing and machine learning methods. The recommended study introduces a unique model segmentation strategy for TB identification. For classification, CNN, Google Net, and other systems based on deep learning are used. On merged datasets, the best accuracy attained by the suggested method utilising Google Net was 89.58 percent. The recommended study will aid in the detection and accurate diagnosis of TB.