INTRODUCTION: Differentiated service delivery (DSD) models aim to tailor health services delivery to clients' preferences and clinical characteristics while reducing the burden on health systems. In Uganda, DSD models developed for HIV care were adapted to the tuberculosis (TB) services context to mitigate disruptions from the COVID-19 pandemic and inform national efforts to improve TB care. METHODS: Beginning in April 2021, four facility-based and five community-based DSD models were implemented in 28 TB clinics in Kampala and Soroti Regions. All clients in the intensive (months 1-2) and continuation (months 3-6) phases of treatment were eligible. Client preference and clinician concurrence determined model choice. All models allowed TB medication dispensing intervals ranging from biweekly to multi-month dispensing (MMD; ≥ 2 months). Data abstracted in December 2022 from TB registers and DSD enrolment tracking tools at 21 of 28 implementing facilities were used to evaluate the intervention. The TB treatment success rate (i.e. proportion cured or who completed treatment, vs. those who died, failed, were lost-to-follow-up or had no recorded outcome) in the DSD cohort was compared to facilities' 2018-2019 results using Fischer's exact test. RESULTS: Most facilities offered one (Kampala) or two (Soroti) facility-based models and one community-based model. Among 1864 TB clients enrolled between April 2021 and March 2022, 1822 (97.7%) used ≥ 1 DSD models; 210/1822 (11.5%) ever switched models. Overall, 70.5% (1284/1822) of clients enrolled in ≥ 1 facility-based model and 40.5% (737/1822) in ≥ 1 community-based model. The use of community-based models increased during the continuation phase. Facility-Based Individual Management and Home Delivery were the most-used models. In the intensive phase, the longest medication dispensation interval was biweekly for 50.0% of patients, monthly for 41.3% and MMD for 8.8%. During the continuation phase, the longest interval was biweekly for 0.6%, monthly for 71.7% and MMD for 27.6%. Overall, 1582/1864 (84.9%) clients were successfully treated, compared to 858/1177 (72.9%) in 2018-2019 (p < 0.001). Seven (0.4%) patients failed treatment, 32 (1.7%) were lost to follow-up, 101 (5.4%) died and 142 (7.6%) were not evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: TB DSD models were successfully implemented. TB treatment outcomes under DSD compared favourably to historical outcomes. Investigating factors affecting MMD use and model choice could further inform programme design.

To help achieve the End TB Strategy target of a 90% reduction in tuberculosis (TB) incidence by 2030, member states of the United Nations High-Level Meetings on TB called for improving provision of TB preventive treatment (TPT) for household contacts of persons with TB, who are at increased risk for infection and disease. However, TPT use among household contacts worldwide remained at 21% in 2023. The International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, the Uganda Ministry of Health, and CDC piloted a comprehensive approach for increasing case finding and TPT coverage among household contacts of persons with TB. During November 1, 2023-September 30, 2024, a total of 521 index patients with TB disease were registered at six health facilities in Uganda. Home visits to index patients identified 1,913 household contacts, 1,739 (91.0%) of whom underwent TB symptom screening at home; 321 (18.5%) reported TB symptoms. Of 309 (96.3%) persons with TB symptoms who were further evaluated, 284 (91.9%) provided a sputum specimen for laboratory testing, including 270 (84.1% of those with symptoms) who did so during the home visit; 214 (69.3%) underwent chest radiography. Overall, 80 TB cases were diagnosed; in 61 (76.3%) persons, the diagnosis was based on radiographic findings. Among 1,496 HHCs eligible for TPT, 1,239 (82.8%) initiated treatment and 1,178 (95.1%) completed it. Global scale-up of this approach might help reach global TB elimination goals.

We report that unsuccessful treatment outcomes were 11.8% for tuberculosis (TB) disease and 21.8% for TB infection among persons deprived of liberty in Uganda Prisons Service facilities. Remedial efforts should include enhancing referral networks to ensure treatment continuity, strengthening data systems for complete outcome documentation, and prioritizing short-course treatment regimens.

During October 2016-March 2022, Uganda increased tuberculosis (TB) preventive therapy coverage among persons living with HIV from 0.6% to 88.8%. TB notification rates increased from 881.1 to 972.5 per 100,000 persons living with HIV. Timely TB screening, diagnosis, and earlier treatment should remain high priorities for TB/HIV prevention programming.