In this week's PLoS Medicine , Philip Campbell Hill of the University of Otago, New Zealand and colleagues propose a new approach to help better manage child contacts of adult TB cases, using a health needs assessment framework, research tools, and a strategy for clinical evaluation. They show how the approach could be applied and evaluated by National TB Control Programs, to ensure that its solutions are sustainable.
The authors say: "We envisage that this approach will help close the gap between policy and practice in TB control in children. As such, it will contribute to the achievement of Millennium Development Goal number four, to reduce child mortality. In addition, it will help reduce the reservoir of M. tuberculosis in the community, which is necessary for TB elimination."
Funding: No specific funding was received for writing this article.
Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist.
Citation: Hill PC, Rutherford ME, Audas R, van Crevel R, Graham SM (2011) Closing the Policy-Practice Gap in the Management of Child Contacts of Tuberculosis Cases in Developing Countries. PLoS Med 8(10): e1001105. doi:10.1371/journal.pmed.1001105
CONTACT:
Philip C. Hill
Centre for International Health
University of Otago
64 Hanover street
Dunedin
Otago
New Zealand
+64 3 479 9462
Philip.hill@otago.ac.nz
PLOS Medicine