Assessment of TB underreporting by level of reporting system in Lagos, Nigeria

BACKGROUND: Nigeria has an estimated TB prevalence of 219 per 100,000 population. In 2019, Nigeria diagnosed and notified 27% of the WHO-estimated cases of all forms of TB and contributed 11% of the missing TB cases globally. OBJECTIVE: To assess TB underreporting by type and level of health facility (HF), and associated factors in Lagos State, Nigeria. METHODOLOGY: Quantitative secondary data analysis of TB cases was conducted in 2015. χ 2 test was used to assess the association between treatment initiation, TB underreporting, local government area (LGA) and HF characteristics. RESULTS: Overall, 2,064 persons with bacteriologically confirmed TB (15.5%) were not matched to patients in sampled TB registers. Treatment status was unknown for 86 cases (IQR 55–97) per LGA. LGAs with higher case-loads had higher proportions of cases with unknown TB status. Discrepant reporting of treated TB was also common (60% HFs). Primary-level TB treatment facilities and unengaged private facilities were less likely to notify. CONCLUSION: There was TB under-reporting across all types and levels of HFs and LGAs. There is a need to revise or strengthen the process of supervision and data quality assurance system at all levels