Cost and Cost-effectiveness of PTB+ Treatment in Southern Ethiopia
Cost and Cost-effectiveness of PTB+ Treatment in Southern Ethiopia
Evidences for policy making and decision related to the cost of delivering tuberculosis (TB)
 control is lacking in Ethiopia. The investigators aimed to determine the cost and
 cost-effectiveness of involving health extension workers (HEWs) in TB treatment under the
 community-based initiative in Ethiopia.
Two treatment options were compared - health facility and community DOT. In 1995, Ethiopia
 adopted World Health Organization (WHO) recommended DOTS strategy for TB control. The
 treatment regimen for new smear-positive patients includes two months of ethambutol,
 rifampicin, isoniazid and pyrazinamide followed by six months of ethambutol and isoniazid.
 For children the continuation phase treatment was replaced by four months of rifampicin and
 isoniazid. Follow up sputum examinations were conducted at the end of 2, 5 and 7 months
 treatment.
Inclusion Criteria:

 -  Pulmonary tuberculosis suspects of any age and sex

 Exclusion Criteria:

 -  Healthy individuals or non tuberculosis patients