Effectiveness of community-based directly observed treatment for tuberculosis in an urban setting in Tanzania: a randomised controlled trial

Abstract

Setting: An urban district in Dar es Salaam city with a high tuberculosis (TB) caseload.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of community-based direct observation of treatment (DOT) using guardians and former TB patients compared to hospital-based DOT in an urban setting in Tanzania.

Design: Unblinded randomised control trial conducted in five sites under operational conditions in Temeke district. No changes to existing treatment delivery were made other than randomisation. The main outcome measure was treatment success. Analysis was by intention to treat.

Findings: A total of 587 new tuberculosis patients were enrolled. Among enrolled patients, 260 were assigned to community-based DOT using guardians and former TB patients and 327 to health facility-based DOT. Both DOT options gave similar treatment outcomes. Treatment success rate among patients under community and health facility-based DOT were 85% and 83%, respectively (OR 1.17, 95%CI 0.75-1.83).

Conclusion: Community-based DOT is as effective as health facility-based DOT and can achieve good treatment outcomes, even in countries with well functioning National Tuberculosis Programmes.