FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH TUBERCULOSIS TRANSMISSION AMONG HOUSEHOLD CONTACTS OF BACTERIOLOGICALLY CONFIRMED PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS PATIENTS NAKURU COUNTY: A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) remains an important communicable disease and people living in the same household with a person with bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB are at increased risk of TB infection. The World Health Organization recommends systematic screening of household and close contacts and TB preventive treatment for eligible contacts. In 2024, an estimated 14 million household contacts of people who were diagnosed with bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB, were reported globally but only a proportion were evaluated and provided with preventive treatment. 
Objective: To determine factors associated with tuberculosis transmission among household contact of bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Nakuru County.
Methods: The proposal will use a quantitative cross-sectional approach among household contacts of bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB patients identified in Nakuru County. Eligible contacts will be identified, consented and interviewed using structured questionnaires. TB status and screening information will be obtained from participant assessment and relevant clinical records where available. Data will be coded, entered into Microsoft Excel and analyzed using descriptive analysis.
Results: The findings will provide local evidence that can support targeted household contact screening, health education, infection prevention and TB preventive treatment. No results are presented in this proposal project because data collection has not been completed.
Conclusion: The study will assess household, environmental, clinical, and preventive factors associated with TB transmission among household contacts. Actually, the study may contribute to improved household level TB prevention and support the ongoing efforts to reduce TB transmission and disease in the community.