Childhood Tuberculosis and Nutrition: Opportunities for Integrated Programming

Childhood Tuberculosis and Nutrition: Opportunities for Integrated Programming

An estimated 1 million children worldwide are infected with tuberculosis (TB) each year, representing about 11 percent of all TB cases. Community platforms, maternal, newborn and child health, and nutrition programs play an integral role in ensuring TB in children is identified and treated early, however all too often children with TB remain undiagnosed, uncounted, and untreated. This technical brief developed by the African Strategies for Health project is intended to inform National TB Programs, nutrition programs, and providers how to capitalize on existing nutrition programs to identify children with TB. It highlights key interventions aimed at addressing malnutrition, and key questions nutrition programs should ask in order to operationalize the identification of children with potential TB.

From September 7-9, 2016, an online discussion forum, Where is Tuberculosis in Maternal and Child Health?, was held on Leadernet.org. The seminar sought to: identify opportunities for intervention, increase the visibility of childhood TB, and define ways to more effectively link TB, MNCH, and primary health programs to provide comprehensive prevention and care. A summary of this discussion is also available.