@article {Rutta:2001:1027-3719:628, title = "Treatment outcome among Rwandan and Burundian refugees with sputum smear-positive tuberculosis in Ngara, Tanzania", journal = "The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease", parent_itemid = "infobike://iuatld/ijtld", publishercode ="iuatld", year = "2001", volume = "5", number = "7", publication date ="2001-07-01T00:00:00", pages = "628-632", itemtype = "ARTICLE", issn = "1027-3719", eissn = "1815-7920", url = "https://www.ingentaconnect.com/content/iuatld/ijtld/2001/00000005/00000007/art00006", keyword = "Tanzania, refugee, tuberculosis", author = "Rutta, E. and Kipingili, R. and Lukonge, H. and Assefa, S. and Mitsilale, E. and Rwechungura, S.", abstract = "SETTING: Tuberculosis programme in six camps (Benaco, Musuhura, Lumasi, Lukole, Keza and Kitali) for Rwandan and Burundian refugees in Ngara district, Tanzania, where treatment was directly observed throughout.OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the treatment outcome of sputum smear-positive tuberculosis cases recruited in refugee camps in Ngara, and to determine the cumulative frequency of conversion of sputum smears by direct microscopy.DESIGN: Retrospective review of tuberculosis registers from January 1995 to December 1999.RESULTS: Of 546 patients with smear-positive tuberculosis who were notified in the programme, 363 (66.5%) had completed treatment and were bacteriologically cured after 7 months, 10.9% had died, 7.1% had defaulted and 14.5% had transferred out. Sputum conversion after the 2-month intensive phase was 88%, and increased to 99% after 7 months of chemotherapy.CONCLUSION: The involvement of the Tanzania NTLP in collaboration with health NGOs has led to a satisfactory outcome. These data suggest that it is possible for tuberculosis control programmes to perform successfully in refugee settings.", }