Author(s)

Obioma Chijioke-Akaniro^1*, Emperor Ubochioma¹, Amos Omoniyi², Oluwafunmilayo Omosebi¹, Olawumi Olarewaju¹, Mary Etolue¹, Sunday Asuke³, Elias Aniwada⁴, Anyaele Uwaezuoke Ndubuisi⁴, Victor Ombeka¹, Aderonke Agbaje⁵, Adebola Lawanson¹, Chukwuma Anyaike¹

¹National Tuberculosis, Leprosy and Buruli Ulcer Control Programme (NTBLCP), FCT, Nigeria.
²World Health Organisation (WHO), FCT, Nigeria.
³Bingham University, Karu, Nigeria.
⁴University of Nigeria, Nsukka, Nigeria.
⁵Institute of Human Virology Nigeria, FCT, Nigeria.

Introduction: Finding the missing Tuberculosis (TB) cases remains the single most important priority for TB control in Nigeria. Between 66% - 92% of all cases of respiratory diseases including those with symptoms suggestive of TB are first seen byprivate health providers. Dependable, quality surveillance systems and notification are key roles in health services delivery, particularly as it is related to TB control. However, poor notification has been a challenge. This study was to assess the contribution of the public private mix (PPM) to Nigeria Tuberculosis national case notification. Methods: It was a national cross-sectional study. Data were extracted from the National database and reviewed. Private facilities were engaged in 2017 and assessed over 2018-2020. Interventions included: enrolling private practitioners (Private-For-Profit, Faith Based Organization, Private Medicine Vendors and Community Pharmacists), engaging a private standalone Laboratory for Gene Xpert testing within the network of private facilities, use of Mobile App for easy screening and reporting, instituting a HUB and spoke, and incentives to private providers for participating. Each private provider had a customized approach. Trend analysis was performed using Cochran-Armitage χ² test for linear trends. Level of significance was at a p value of <0.05. Results: Total case notification increased from 104,904 cases in 2017 to 138,591 in 2020. There were 2.0% increase in 2018, 13.0% in 2019 and 15.0% in 2020 (p < 0.001). PPM contribution to case notification increased from 10,699 cases in 2017 to 12,625 in 2018, then 17,250 in 2019 and 38,865 in 2020. There were 18.0% increase in 2018, 36.6% in 2019 and 125.3% increase in 2020 (p < 0.001). Conclusion: Effective engagement of the private sector in TB control efforts in Nigeria using a variety of approaches resulting in improved TB notification is possible. The National TB Programme should engage all private practitioners such that each practitioner will practice at least one TB service model.

Strategic Engagement, Public-Private Mix, Case Notification, Tuberculosis, Nigeria

Chijioke-Akaniro, O. , Ubochioma, E. , Omoniyi, A. , Omosebi, O. , Olarewaju, O. , Etolue, M. , Asuke, S. , Aniwada, E. , Ndubuisi, A. , Ombeka, V. , Agbaje, A. , Lawanson, A. and Anyaike, C. (2022) Strategic Engagement of Private Facilities to Increase Public-Private Mix (PPM) Contribution to Nigeria Tuberculosis Case Notification. Journal of Tuberculosis Research, 10, 99-110. doi: 10.4236/jtr.2022.103008.