S1_Data_quantitative study.xlsx

Background: World Health Organisation (WHO) recommends Isoniazid Preventive Therapy (IPT) for six months to child contacts without tuberculosis (TB). Child contacts are defined as children under 15 years old who are exposed to an adult with active TB. The effectiveness of IPT depends on medication adherence of 80% or greater. The current study assessed IPT adherence and explored barriers to adherence ineligible child TB contacts in Rwanda.<br>Methods: A mixed method study design was used to prospectively assess adherence to IPT among eligible child contacts and its associated factors through a quantitative, observational cohort study, and to explore barriers and facilitators of adherence to IPT through a qualitative study.<br>Results: Among the 270 child contacts recruited for the main cross-sectional study, 94 (35%) were under 5 years old and eligible for IPT. Eighty-four (89%) started IPT, but 10 (12%) of them did not complete 6 months of IPT. Only one child contact developed TB after IPT completion. There were no factors found to be significantly associated with IPT adherence in a bivariate and multivariate analysis. The qualitative analysis shows that parents/caregivers, household, diseases, health care providers, child-related factors and access are the major sub-themes determining IPT adherence.<br>Conclusion: This study shows that whereas IPT is well managed in Rwanda, barriers to IPT adherence remain, and strategies are needed to address challenges with IPT adherence as part of the National Tuberculosis Programme.