African Immunotherapy | 07 May 2007
Evaluating Community-Based Tuberculosis Treatment Programmes in Nairobi's Urban Slums,
N, y, a, g, a, K, i, g, e, n, ,, K, i, s, i, m, a, O, k, e, y, o
Abstract
Nairobi's urban slums face significant challenges in accessing tuberculosis (TB) treatment services due to socio-economic barriers and inadequate healthcare infrastructure. A mixed-methods approach including quantitative data analysis from clinic records and qualitative interviews with patients and healthcare providers was employed to assess the impact and operational efficiency of these programmes over a two-year period. Adherence rates among community-based treatment participants were found to be 85% higher compared to traditional hospital settings, indicating successful engagement strategies. Programme efficiency metrics showed reductions in travel time by up to 70%, enhancing accessibility for residents. Community-based TB programmes demonstrated significant improvements in patient adherence and programme efficiency, particularly in terms of reduced travel times, which are crucial factors for urban slum dwellers who lack access to comprehensive healthcare facilities. Continued support for community health workers and the expansion of digital health platforms could further enhance treatment success and operational sustainability. Treatment effect was estimated with $\text{logit}(p<em>i)=\beta</em>0+\beta^\top X_i$, and uncertainty reported using confidence-interval based inference.