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Percent of HCWs Screened for TB

References in the content below refer to the PBMEF Guide.

Definitions

Percent of healthcare workers (HCWs) screened for active TB disease during the reporting period, in line with national policies for HCWs. National policy for screening of HCWs may include specific high risk settings, e.g., TB clinics, outpatient departments (OPDs), emergency room (ER), staff providing inpatient care, laboratory workers, community health workers, or community-based volunteers (CBVs) involved with mobile outreach or TB contact investigations (TBCIs).

HCW: A frontline HCW who is providing direct services including TB screening, contact evaluation, diagnosis, treatment, and patient care or support.

Numerator

Number of HCWs screened for active TB disease in line with national policy during the reporting period

Denominator

Number of HCWs who were working in the country in the clinical or community settings in line with national policy during the reporting period
Ref #
HCW_SCRN
(Previously HW-1)
Tier Level
Project Level Indicators
Category
Prevent
Type
Outcome
Unit of Measure
Percent of HCWs
Data Type
Percentage
Disaggregations
Sex
Workplace Setting
Type of HCW
Type of Facility
Reporting Level
Project Level indicators are expected to be reported at the subnational level for subnational units where the partner is operating. National data may also be reported if available.
Reporting Frequency
This indicator should be reported on an annual basis at a minimum. More frequent monitoring on a quarterly or monthly basis is recommended.

The data sources are health care worker screening register, contact investigation (CI) register, and electronic management information systems available at the health facility and district level.

HCWs are at an increased risk of occupational transmission of TB infection (TBI) from patients. They are known to be at high risk of latent TBI and active TB disease through occupational exposure to patients with active TB. Because of this increased risk, it is important that HCWs be regularly screened for TB to achieve the World Health Organization’s (WHO) End TB Strategy goal of early detection and treatment of all TB patients and USAID’s fundamental tenets of TB to detect, diagnose, treat, and prevent. 

This metric is one indicator that measures the robustness of a country’s TB screening program.

The percent of HCWs screened for TB can be analyzed over time and/or by comparing the percent of HCWs screened by various disaggregations, such as subregion, private vs. public health facilities, sex of HCWs, or age of HCWs (e.g., under 30, 30–39, 40–49, 50–59, 60 and older). This can provide insight into which regions or facilities have strong HCW screening protocols and which ones may be lagging; if there are discrepancies in screening by age or sex of HCWs; or if screening HCWs has improved, declined, or maintained over time.

Additionally, using a cascade analysis can indicate where there are gaps along the TB screening, notification, and treatment continuum for HCWs. This analysis will provide a useful explanation for why a country may or may not be achieving its targets, what course corrections may be needed to address nosocomial transmission of TB, and which gaps in programming may require additional resources.

Examples of data visualizations:

  • Bar graph of percent of HCWs screened by type of HCW
  • Bar graph of percent of HCWs screened by region over a 10- or 20-year period
  • Stacked bar graph of percent of HCWs screened by region or by sex
  • HCW screening cascade
  • HCW screened for TB
  • Presumptive TB
  • Confirmed TB 
  • Screened negative of TB
  • Tested for TBI
  • Tested positive for TBI
  • Initiated on TB preventive treatment (TPT)
  • Completed TPT
There are no related indicators for this indicator.

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Changelog

March, 2024: Updated the name, definition, and other information based on the Interim PBMEF Tuberculosis Indicator Compendium.