Abstract
Purpose Statement: This project assessed the demographics, clinical features and treatment outcomes of pediatric tuberculosis (TB) at an urban children’s hospital in Haiti in 2023.
Background: TB is a global health problem and is the second leading cause of death after COVID-19. Ending the TB epidemic by 2035 is a health target of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated 1.25 million children became ill with TB. Haiti has the highest rate of TB in the Western Hemisphere with a 2023 incidence rate of 149 cases per 100,000 people compared to the United States with less than 4 cases per 100,000 people. Children are more likely to get sick with TB than adults. Contact with known adult TB cases is an important risk factor for children.
Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of children aged 14 and younger diagnosed with any form of TB at an urban children’s hospital in 2023. Medical record reviews were conducted using a standardized collection form. Demographics, clinical characteristics, diagnostic testing and treatment regimen data of these patients were analyzed. This analysis was approved by the National Director of the hospital.
Results: A total of 32 pediatric patients were included in this analysis and all presented with symptoms of TB. Extrapulmonary TB was the most common clinical presentation (n=23). There were more males (56%) than females, 60% of the patients were younger than 5 years old, and 75% had a history of receiving Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination. In-patient hospitalization of three patients was required for more than two months due to severe malnutrition. There were no reported deaths. One child, two years old, was also diagnosed with HIV. Twenty-eight patients successfully completed their treatment with intense caregiver education. All efforts for follow-up were attempted by the institution utilizing community health agents; however displacement due to the socio-political situation played a key role in the failure of completing treatment for four of the patients.
Conclusions: This analysis provided valuable insights into outcomes and associated factors related to pediatric TB. Nursing implications include ensuring adherence to treatment plans by providing support and ongoing education to patients and family members. The analysis may help the hospital in measuring progress towards the SDGs of the 2035 World Health Organization's End TB strategy.
Notes
References:
Maphalle LNF, Michniak-Kohn BB, Ogunrombi MO, Adeleke OA. (2022). Pediatric Tuberculosis Management: A Global Challenge or Breakthrough? Children, 9(8):1120. https://doi.org/10.3390/children9081120
Pan American Health Organization. (2024, October 4). Public Health Situation Analysis. Haiti. https://www.paho.org/en/documents/public-health-situation-analysis-haiti-4-octobre-2024
Verkuijl, S., Bastard, M., Brands, A., Viney, K., Masini, T., Mavhunga, F., Floyd, K., & Kasaeva, T. (2024). Global reporting on TB in children and adolescents: how far have we come and what remains to be done?. IJTLD open, 1(1), 3–6. https://doi.org/10.5588/ijtldopen.23.0529
Villarreal, E. G., Estrada-Mendizábal, R. J., Ramos-Barrera, E., Treviño-Valdez, P. D., & Tamez-Rivera, O. (2022). Pediatric Tuberculosis in Mexican Children: A Retrospective Analysis of 100 Patients. Open Forum Infectious Diseases, 9(Supplement 2). https://doi.org/10.1093/ofid/ofac492.1272
Sigma Membership
Delta Theta
Type
Presentation
Format Type
Text-based Document
Study Design/Type
Other
Research Approach
Other
Keywords:
Public and Community Health, Sustainable Development Goals, Acute Care, Pediatric Tuberculosis, Haiti
Recommended Citation
Fréderic, Jocelyne Arnoux; Alexandre, Margarett; Baird, Becky M.; Palmer, Ellen L.; Gilliland, Mary; and Edwards, Charla, "Pediatric Tuberculosis at an Urban Hospital in Haiti: Nursing Implications" (2025). International Nursing Research Congress (INRC). 192.
https://www.sigmarepository.org/inrc/2025/presentations_2025/192
Conference Name
36th International Nursing Research Congress
Conference Host
Sigma Theta Tau International
Conference Location
Seattle, Washington, USA
Conference Year
2025
Rights Holder
All rights reserved by the author(s) and/or publisher(s) listed in this item record unless relinquished in whole or part by a rights notation or a Creative Commons License present in this item record.
Review Type
Abstract Review Only: Reviewed by Event Host
Acquisition
Proxy-submission
Pediatric Tuberculosis at an Urban Hospital in Haiti: Nursing Implications
Seattle, Washington, USA
Purpose Statement: This project assessed the demographics, clinical features and treatment outcomes of pediatric tuberculosis (TB) at an urban children’s hospital in Haiti in 2023.
Background: TB is a global health problem and is the second leading cause of death after COVID-19. Ending the TB epidemic by 2035 is a health target of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In 2022, the World Health Organization (WHO) estimated 1.25 million children became ill with TB. Haiti has the highest rate of TB in the Western Hemisphere with a 2023 incidence rate of 149 cases per 100,000 people compared to the United States with less than 4 cases per 100,000 people. Children are more likely to get sick with TB than adults. Contact with known adult TB cases is an important risk factor for children.
Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of children aged 14 and younger diagnosed with any form of TB at an urban children’s hospital in 2023. Medical record reviews were conducted using a standardized collection form. Demographics, clinical characteristics, diagnostic testing and treatment regimen data of these patients were analyzed. This analysis was approved by the National Director of the hospital.
Results: A total of 32 pediatric patients were included in this analysis and all presented with symptoms of TB. Extrapulmonary TB was the most common clinical presentation (n=23). There were more males (56%) than females, 60% of the patients were younger than 5 years old, and 75% had a history of receiving Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination. In-patient hospitalization of three patients was required for more than two months due to severe malnutrition. There were no reported deaths. One child, two years old, was also diagnosed with HIV. Twenty-eight patients successfully completed their treatment with intense caregiver education. All efforts for follow-up were attempted by the institution utilizing community health agents; however displacement due to the socio-political situation played a key role in the failure of completing treatment for four of the patients.
Conclusions: This analysis provided valuable insights into outcomes and associated factors related to pediatric TB. Nursing implications include ensuring adherence to treatment plans by providing support and ongoing education to patients and family members. The analysis may help the hospital in measuring progress towards the SDGs of the 2035 World Health Organization's End TB strategy.
Description
Tuberculosis is one of the leading killers of global infectious diseases. Young children with TB disease may have serious consequences due to their immature immune systems. By attending this session, the learner will discover the 2023 epidemiological trends and nursing implications of pediatric TB at an urban hospital in Haiti.