Project Lead(s): Melecio Mayta Ccota
Issue
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a serious public health problem in Peru.
In 2013, Peru had a prevalence rate (new cases and previously treated) of 102 per 100,000 inhabitants and an incidence rate of 90 per 100,000 inhabitants, with the majority of cases in Lima and Callao.
Lima and Callao also have the highest drop-out rates to anti-tuberculosis treatment.
Solution
The project team established a strategy to help improve adherence to anti-tuberculosis treatment.
The system utilizes biometric technology (SISBIOTB) to capture patient information, record attendance at clinics and monitor compliance to the treatment regimen, using fingerprint verification with a biometric reader.
Failure to comply with treatment generates an alert to the patient, the administrator of treatment and their immediate supervisor, to take appropriate action.
Outcome
The SISBIO TB Biometric System has been successfully implemented in 30 health facilities and is being coordinated with the Ministry of Health to implement on a large scale, linked to the SIGTB (System Management Information TB).
Use of the system in the 30 health facilities reduced the drop-out rate from 12% to 6%, and increased treatment success from 73% to 80%.
SISBIO TB can be integrated with other tracking systems to improve management of TB cases.
The team is applying for Phase II Transition To Scale (TTS) funding to expand the system to other healthcare facilities, and is working with the National Health Strategy for Prevention and Control of Tuberculosis of the Ministry of Health to implement the system in institutions with more complex cases.