A community-based intervention was carried out in six states in Nigeria. The creation of TB awareness was undertaken, and work aids, guidelines, and diagnostic charts were produced, distributed, and used. Various cadres of health workers and ad hoc project staff were trained. Child contacts with TB patients were screened in their homes, and children presenting at various hospital units were screened for TB. Baseline and intervention data were collected for evaluation populations and control populations.
Detection of childhood TB increased in the evaluation population during the intervention, with a mean quarterly increase of 4.0% [new smear positive (NSP), although the increasing trend was not statistically significant (χ2 = 1.8; p < .179)]. Additionally, there was a mean quarterly increase of 3% for all forms of TB, although the trend was not statistically significant (χ2 = 1.48; p < .224). Conversely, there was a decrease in case notification in the control population, with a mean decline of 3% (all forms). Compared to the baseline, there was an increase of 31% (all forms) and 22% (NSP) in the evaluation population.
Intensified case finding combined with capacity building, provision of work aids/guidelines, and TB health education can improve childhood-TB notification.