Adherence to Latent Tuberculosis Infection Treatment in a Population with a High Number of Refugee Children.

BACKGROUND

Refugee populations in the US have a higher reported prevalence of latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI). The objective of this study was to assess adherence to LTBI treatment in refugee and non-refugee children living in Rhode Island.

METHODS

This was a retrospective review of LTBI patients seen in the Hasbro Pediatric Tuberculosis Clinic between August 2009 and September 2011.

RESULTS

Of 120 patients with LTBI, 93% were foreign-born and 30% were refugees. Overall, 94 children (78.3%) completed therapy. Higher rates of treatment completion were seen among patients who were female, referred within the same hospital system, used an interpreter, and did not report side effects. Refugees attended more scheduled visits compared to non-refugees (p=0.019).

CONCLUSIONS

Overall rates of completion of LTBI treatment were high in this population. Better adherence to clinic visits, likely due to the increased support and care coordination provided to the refugee children, improved treatment completion rates. [Full article available at http://rimed.org/rimedicaljournal-2017-02.asp].