title: Management of children exposed to Mycobacterium tuberculosis: a public health evaluation in West Java, Indonesia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate qualitatively and quantitatively the performance of a programme for managing the child contacts of adult tuberculosis patients in Indonesia.
  
  
  METHODS
  A public health evaluation framework was used to assess gaps in a child contact management programme at a lung clinic. Targets for programme performance indicators were derived from established programme indicator targets, the scientific literature and expert opinion. Compliance with tuberculosis screening, the initiation of isoniazid preventive therapy in children younger than 5 years, the accuracy of tuberculosis diagnosis and adherence to preventive therapy were assessed in 755 child contacts in two cohorts. In addition, 22 primary caregivers and 34 clinic staff were interviewed to evaluate knowledge and acceptance of child contact management. The cost to caregivers was recorded. Gaps between observed and target indicator values were quantified.
  
  
  RESULTS
  THE GAPS BETWEEN OBSERVED AND TARGET PERFORMANCE INDICATORS WERE: 82% for screening compliance; 64 to 100% for diagnostic accuracy, 50% for the initiation of preventive therapy, 54% for adherence to therapy and 50% for costs. Many staff did not have adequate knowledge of, or an appropriate attitude towards, child contact management, especially regarding isoniazid preventive therapy. Caregivers had good knowledge of screening but not of preventive therapy and had difficulty travelling to the clinic and paying costs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The study identified widespread gaps in the performance of a child contact management system in Indonesia, all of which appear amenable to intervention. The public health evaluation framework used could be applied in other settings where child contact management is failing.
authors.affiliation: Centre for International Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Otago, PO Box 913, Dunedin, New Zealand .
authors.forename: Merrin E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Rutherford
authors.affiliation: Health Research Unit, University of Padjadjaran, Bandung, Indonesia .
authors.forename: Rovina
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ruslami
authors.affiliation: Centre for International Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Otago, PO Box 913, Dunedin, New Zealand .
authors.forename: Melissa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Anselmo
authors.affiliation: Health Research Unit, University of Padjadjaran, Bandung, Indonesia .
authors.forename: Bachti
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Alisjahbana
authors.affiliation: Bandung Community Lung Clinic, Bandung, Indonesia .
authors.forename: Neti
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Yulianti
authors.affiliation: Bandung Community Lung Clinic, Bandung, Indonesia .
authors.forename: Hedy
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Sampurno
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Radboud University, Nijmegen, Netherlands .
authors.forename: Reinout
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van Crevel
authors.affiliation: Centre for International Health, Faculty of Medicine, University of Otago, PO Box 913, Dunedin, New Zealand .
authors.forename: Philip C
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Hill
mesh_terms: D000995:Antitubercular Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D005102:Health Expenditures; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D007214:Indonesia; D007538:Isoniazid / Q000008:administration & dosage* / Q000191:economics; D008297:Male; D008403:Mass Screening; D055118:Medication Adherence; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis; D015980:Public Health Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D019984:Quality Indicators, Health Care; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control* / Q000635:transmission
chemical_list: D000995:Antitubercular Agents; D007538:Isoniazid