National cross-sectional cluster survey of tuberculosis prevalence in Timor-Leste: A study protocol

Constantino Lopes; Josefina Clarinha Joao; Christopher Lowbridge; Nelson Martins; Rofina Isabel Gusmão dos Santos; Endang da Silva; Joana Dias; Sureshbabu Ramalingam; Salvador Amaral; Tessa Oakley; Lourenco da Costa Ico; Nevio Sarmento; Jennifer Yan; Joshua Reginald Francis

doi:10.1136/bmjopen-2023-079794

National cross-sectional cluster survey of tuberculosis prevalence in Timor-Leste: A study protocol

Constantino Lopes, Josefina Clarinha Joao, Christopher Lowbridge, Nelson Martins, Rofina Isabel Gusmão dos Santos, Endang da Silva, Joana Dias, Sureshbabu Ramalingam, Salvador Amaral, Tessa Oakley, Lourenco da Costa Ico, Nevio Sarmento, Jennifer Yan, Joshua Reginald Francis

Research output: Contribution to journal › Article › peer-review

25 Downloads (Pure)

Abstract

Introduction Timor-Leste has one of the world's highest estimated tuberculosis (TB) incidences, yet the data which informs this estimate is limited and the true burden of TB disease is not known. TB prevalence surveys offer the best means of determining robust estimates of disease burden. This study aims to provide an estimate of the prevalence of bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB in Timor-Leste and provide additional insights into diagnostic coverage and health-seeking behaviour of persons with symptoms suggestive of TB.

Methods and analysis A national population-based cross-sectional cluster survey will be conducted in which participants aged 15 years and older will be screened for pulmonary TB using an algorithm consisting of symptom screening and digital X-ray of the chest with computer-aided detection software for X-ray interpretation. Xpert Ultra and liquid culture methods will be used to confirm survey TB cases. Additional data will be collected from persons reporting symptoms suggestive of TB to assess health-seeking behaviour and access to TB diagnosis and care. The survey aims to screen a target sample population of 20 068 people, living within 50 clusters, representing every municipality of Timor-Leste. Bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB prevalence will be estimated using WHO-recommended methods.

Ethics and dissemination Research ethics approval has been granted by the human research ethics committee of the Northern Territory, Australia, and the Instituto Nacional da Saúde, Timor-Leste. The results will be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal and disseminated with relevant stakeholders.

Original language	English
Article number	e079794
Pages (from-to)	1-17
Number of pages	17
Journal	BMJ Open
Volume	14
Issue number	3
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-079794
Publication status	Published - 8 Mar 2024

Bibliographical note

Funding Information:
This work was funded by the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through the Indo-Pacific Health Security Initiative, under the Strengthening Malaria, TB, COVID-19 and HIV diagnosis and surveillance in Timor-Leste (MATCH-TL) grant (reference: 76922). The views expressed in this publication are the author’s alone and are not necessarily the views of the Australian Government.

Publisher Copyright:
© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024.

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1136/bmjopen-2023-079794

99414068-oaFinal published version, 378 KBLicence: CC BY-NC

Cite this

Lopes, C., Joao, J. C., Lowbridge, C., Martins, N., dos Santos, R. I. G., da Silva, E., Dias, J., Ramalingam, S., Amaral, S., Oakley, T., da Costa Ico, L., Sarmento, N., Yan, J., & Francis, J. R. (2024). National cross-sectional cluster survey of tuberculosis prevalence in Timor-Leste: A study protocol. BMJ Open, 14(3), 1-17. Article e079794. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-079794

@article{4c1759bf65b24e4c840d2f97125ee868,

title = "National cross-sectional cluster survey of tuberculosis prevalence in Timor-Leste: A study protocol",

abstract = "Introduction Timor-Leste has one of the world's highest estimated tuberculosis (TB) incidences, yet the data which informs this estimate is limited and the true burden of TB disease is not known. TB prevalence surveys offer the best means of determining robust estimates of disease burden. This study aims to provide an estimate of the prevalence of bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB in Timor-Leste and provide additional insights into diagnostic coverage and health-seeking behaviour of persons with symptoms suggestive of TB.Methods and analysis A national population-based cross-sectional cluster survey will be conducted in which participants aged 15 years and older will be screened for pulmonary TB using an algorithm consisting of symptom screening and digital X-ray of the chest with computer-aided detection software for X-ray interpretation. Xpert Ultra and liquid culture methods will be used to confirm survey TB cases. Additional data will be collected from persons reporting symptoms suggestive of TB to assess health-seeking behaviour and access to TB diagnosis and care. The survey aims to screen a target sample population of 20 068 people, living within 50 clusters, representing every municipality of Timor-Leste. Bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB prevalence will be estimated using WHO-recommended methods.Ethics and dissemination Research ethics approval has been granted by the human research ethics committee of the Northern Territory, Australia, and the Instituto Nacional da Sa{\'u}de, Timor-Leste. The results will be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal and disseminated with relevant stakeholders.",

author = "Constantino Lopes and Joao, {Josefina Clarinha} and Christopher Lowbridge and Nelson Martins and {dos Santos}, {Rofina Isabel Gusm{\~a}o} and {da Silva}, Endang and Joana Dias and Sureshbabu Ramalingam and Salvador Amaral and Tessa Oakley and {da Costa Ico}, Lourenco and Nevio Sarmento and Jennifer Yan and Francis, {Joshua Reginald}",

note = "Funding Information: This work was funded by the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through the Indo-Pacific Health Security Initiative, under the Strengthening Malaria, TB, COVID-19 and HIV diagnosis and surveillance in Timor-Leste (MATCH-TL) grant (reference: 76922). The views expressed in this publication are the author{\textquoteright}s alone and are not necessarily the views of the Australian Government. Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024.",

year = "2024",

month = mar,

day = "8",

doi = "10.1136/bmjopen-2023-079794",

language = "English",

volume = "14",

pages = "1--17",

journal = "BMJ Open",

issn = "2044-6055",

publisher = "British Medical Journal Publishing Group (BMJ Publishing)",

number = "3",

}

Lopes, C, Joao, JC, Lowbridge, C, Martins, N, dos Santos, RIG, da Silva, E, Dias, J, Ramalingam, S, Amaral, S, Oakley, T, da Costa Ico, L, Sarmento, N, Yan, J & Francis, JR 2024, 'National cross-sectional cluster survey of tuberculosis prevalence in Timor-Leste: A study protocol', BMJ Open, vol. 14, no. 3, e079794, pp. 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2023-079794

TY - JOUR

T1 - National cross-sectional cluster survey of tuberculosis prevalence in Timor-Leste

T2 - A study protocol

AU - Lopes, Constantino

AU - Joao, Josefina Clarinha

AU - Lowbridge, Christopher

AU - Martins, Nelson

AU - dos Santos, Rofina Isabel Gusmão

AU - da Silva, Endang

AU - Dias, Joana

AU - Ramalingam, Sureshbabu

AU - Amaral, Salvador

AU - Oakley, Tessa

AU - da Costa Ico, Lourenco

AU - Sarmento, Nevio

AU - Yan, Jennifer

AU - Francis, Joshua Reginald

N1 - Funding Information: This work was funded by the Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade through the Indo-Pacific Health Security Initiative, under the Strengthening Malaria, TB, COVID-19 and HIV diagnosis and surveillance in Timor-Leste (MATCH-TL) grant (reference: 76922). The views expressed in this publication are the author’s alone and are not necessarily the views of the Australian Government. Publisher Copyright: © Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2024.

PY - 2024/3/8

Y1 - 2024/3/8

N2 - Introduction Timor-Leste has one of the world's highest estimated tuberculosis (TB) incidences, yet the data which informs this estimate is limited and the true burden of TB disease is not known. TB prevalence surveys offer the best means of determining robust estimates of disease burden. This study aims to provide an estimate of the prevalence of bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB in Timor-Leste and provide additional insights into diagnostic coverage and health-seeking behaviour of persons with symptoms suggestive of TB.Methods and analysis A national population-based cross-sectional cluster survey will be conducted in which participants aged 15 years and older will be screened for pulmonary TB using an algorithm consisting of symptom screening and digital X-ray of the chest with computer-aided detection software for X-ray interpretation. Xpert Ultra and liquid culture methods will be used to confirm survey TB cases. Additional data will be collected from persons reporting symptoms suggestive of TB to assess health-seeking behaviour and access to TB diagnosis and care. The survey aims to screen a target sample population of 20 068 people, living within 50 clusters, representing every municipality of Timor-Leste. Bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB prevalence will be estimated using WHO-recommended methods.Ethics and dissemination Research ethics approval has been granted by the human research ethics committee of the Northern Territory, Australia, and the Instituto Nacional da Saúde, Timor-Leste. The results will be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal and disseminated with relevant stakeholders.

AB - Introduction Timor-Leste has one of the world's highest estimated tuberculosis (TB) incidences, yet the data which informs this estimate is limited and the true burden of TB disease is not known. TB prevalence surveys offer the best means of determining robust estimates of disease burden. This study aims to provide an estimate of the prevalence of bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB in Timor-Leste and provide additional insights into diagnostic coverage and health-seeking behaviour of persons with symptoms suggestive of TB.Methods and analysis A national population-based cross-sectional cluster survey will be conducted in which participants aged 15 years and older will be screened for pulmonary TB using an algorithm consisting of symptom screening and digital X-ray of the chest with computer-aided detection software for X-ray interpretation. Xpert Ultra and liquid culture methods will be used to confirm survey TB cases. Additional data will be collected from persons reporting symptoms suggestive of TB to assess health-seeking behaviour and access to TB diagnosis and care. The survey aims to screen a target sample population of 20 068 people, living within 50 clusters, representing every municipality of Timor-Leste. Bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB prevalence will be estimated using WHO-recommended methods.Ethics and dissemination Research ethics approval has been granted by the human research ethics committee of the Northern Territory, Australia, and the Instituto Nacional da Saúde, Timor-Leste. The results will be published in a peer-reviewed scientific journal and disseminated with relevant stakeholders.

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85187493671&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-079794

DO - 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-079794

M3 - Article

C2 - 38458815

AN - SCOPUS:85187493671

SN - 2044-6055

VL - 14

SP - 1

EP - 17

JO - BMJ Open

JF - BMJ Open

IS - 3

M1 - e079794

ER -

National cross-sectional cluster survey of tuberculosis prevalence in Timor-Leste: A study protocol

Abstract

Bibliographical note

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Cite this