Published on May 2025 | Tuberculosis

Drug-resistant tuberculosis treatment outcomes among Saharia: a marginalized community of Madhya Pradesh, India

Background Few attempts have been made to explore the drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) outcomes and associated factors among underprivileged communities. This study aimed to determine DR-TB treatment outcomes and associated factors in the Saharia tribal group (TGs), a community with a high TB burden in Madhya Pradesh, India. Methods TB cases were detected through active case finding and were treated under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme. All the patients who were initiated on DR-TB treatment and had outcomes at the end of treatment were included in the study. The DR-TB treatment outcomes and associated factors were recorded. Findings Of 323 patients included in the analysis, 216 patients (66.8%) had successful treatment outcomes, including 70 (21.7%) who were cured and another 146 (45.2%) who completed treatment. Among the rest, 36 (11.1%) died, 66 (20.4%) were lost to follow-up and 5 (1.5%) had treatment failure. A total of 83% of patients were rifampicin resistant (RR)/multidrug resistant (MDR). Conclusions Although the program’s recommended target of >75% could not be achieved, the treatment success rate in the study is still admirable in a hard-to-reach high-TB-risk tribal area. The findings show that with community-based approaches, favourable treatment outcomes can be achieved in DR-TB patients from resource-poor settings.