PREVALENCE AND DEATH RATES OF TUBERCULOSIS IN INDIA: ESTIMATES FROM GOI AND NFHS-3

INTRODUCTION:
India accounts for a fifth of world’s new T.B cases annually and 2/3rd of cases in South East Asia. TB primarily affects the lung (80 percent) but can also affect other parts of the body.

OBJECTIVES:
The objective of the study is to review and assess the status of the country in relation to Tuberculosis (Goal 6) and various issues and challenges that will be critical in achieving the goals.

METHODS:
The methods used in this study have been heavily drawn from secondary data sources like NFHS, different state governments and compiled by GoI, MoHFW.

RESULTS:
During 1998-2006 the prevalence has increased drastically. The death rate has increased from less than one percent to almost 3.5 till 2004 and a slight decline is observed during 2005. As per NFHS-1, the prevalence for all India was 467 per 1 lac population. During 1998-99 and 2005-2006 the figure was 544 and 445.

CONCLUSIONS:
The Revised National Tuberculosis Control Program (RNTCP) was started in India in 1993 (Phase-I) and it could achieve a cure rate of above 90. Further, the strategy was extended to cover 14 million population in phase-II (1995). After this successful testing the RNTCP, phase-III was launched in 1997.