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Barriers to the implementation of isoniazid preventive therapy for tuberculosis in children in endemic settings: A review
Author(s) -
Grace Samuel G
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
journal of paediatrics and child health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.631
H-Index - 76
eISSN - 1440-1754
pISSN - 1034-4810
DOI - 10.1111/jpc.14359
Subject(s) - medicine , cinahl , isoniazid , tuberculosis , psychological intervention , intensive care medicine , disease , medline , family medicine , public health , nursing , pathology , political science , law
Isoniazid preventive therapy is one of the key interventions in reducing the risk of active disease among children exposed to tuberculosis. However, initiation and maintenance of this treatment is poor in many areas. This review summarises the existing literature on barriers to implementation of isoniazid preventive therapy for tuberculosis in children in endemic settings. MEDLINE, EMBASE and CINAHL databases were used to search for primary research studies published between 1998 and 2018, specifically mentioning isoniazid preventive therapy, tuberculosis and children. Barriers identified in most study settings included absence of parental risk perception, health‐care worker knowledge gaps and treatment access. Focusing on patient‐centred care, enhancing community and health‐care worker education and securing stable medication supply to effectively deliver this therapy is crucial in order to reduce childhood morbidity and mortality from tuberculosis.