Private sector treatment of childhood tuberculosis in South Africa

摘要

Background: According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), South Africa (SA) is listed among the 22 high tuberculosis (TB) burden countries. In 2011 SA reported 37,883 new cases of childhood TB. The accuracy and completeness of this information is doubtful due to the diagnostic challenges of paediatric TB and poor surveillance mechanisms. This data potentially excludes those children treated outside the National TB Programme (NTP) facilities.