Socio-economically underprivileged areas in the Philippines. To review the implementation of tuberculosis (TB) contact investigations in the urban poor areas of Manila and Quezon City. A descriptive cross-sectional study based on a review of data from household contact registries in local government unit (LGU) and non-government organisation (NGO) facilities during January-December 2012 in Manila and Quezon City. Free discussion sessions were also conducted among health-care workers. Of 6161 children and adult household contacts listed in the LGUs and 1893 in the NGOs, 17% ( = 1086) in the LGUs and 95% ( = 1800) in the NGOs were evaluated. The yield of clinically diagnosed TB among children aged <15 years was 10.2% (127/1245) in the LGUs and 8.4% (63/752) in the NGOs. The yield of isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) for those aged <5 years was 23.1% (124/537) in the LGUs and 28.0% (78/279) in the NGOs. The NGOs produced a high yield of IPT due to a better logistical system that ensured the availability of supplies and systematic home visits. Screening of household contacts in poor urban areas appears to be effective; it increased the number of children aged<15 years eligible for IPT and should be expanded as an intervention strategy for TB control in the Philippines.

The Research Institute of Tuberculosis/Japan Anti-Tuberculosis Association Philippines is a local non-governmental organisation (NGO) established in 2008 to improve access to tuberculosis (TB) services. Community health volunteers (CHVs) from NGO referring facilities were engaged to assist in local TB control activities. To describe the activities of the CHVs and the barriers experienced by patients with presumptive TB in seeking health care to treatment as documented on a master list, and to identify the CHVs' challenges in community TB care implementation. This was a retrospective evaluation with a non-experimental design reviewing the presumptive TB master list and TB reports and conducting a free discussion session (FDS) in 2012. Of the 78% (281/362) of referred presumptive TB patients who accessed a DOTS facility, 69% (194/281) underwent a diagnostic examination and 42% (81/194) were diagnosed with active TB. Of the 93% (75/81) initiated on treatment, 92% (69/75) were successfully treated. The CHVs contributed approximately 3% (75/2534) to the total TB cases diagnosed at the DOTS facilities. In the FDS, barriers evoked in seeking health care for treatment were transfer of residence and lack of interest in seeking a consultation. In 2012, the CHV attrition rate was 55% (80/145). The CHVs assisted in enhancing access to TB care and case detection. Sustainability of the CHVs' efforts should be explored to retain them in the programme.

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