RESUMO
BACKGROUND: The Philippines ranks ninth among the 22 high-burden countries for tuberculosis (TB). OBJECTIVE: To measure the burden of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in the Philippines and determine the impact of the DOTS strategy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The 2007 nationwide TB prevalence survey covered 50 clusters selected by multi-stage stratified random sampling from Metro Manila and other urban and rural areas. Subjects aged >or=10 years were screened radiographically for PTB to identify subjects for sputum examination and determine the prevalence of bacteriologically confirmed PTB, i.e., smear- and/or culture-positive PTB. RESULTS: In subjects aged >or=10 years, the 2007 prevalence of radiographic PTB was 6.3% (95%CI 5.5-7.1), bacteriologically confirmed PTB was 6.6 per 1000 (95%CI 5.1-8.1) and sputum smear-positive PTB was 2.6/1000 (95%CI 1.7-3.6). For the total population, the corresponding estimates were respectively 4.7%, 4.9/1000 and 2.0/1000. Between 1997 and 2007, there was a 31% reduction in bacteriologically confirmed PTB (P < 0.02) and a 27% reduction in smear-positive PTB (P = 0.18). This decline occurred despite the increasing poverty in the population. CONCLUSION: The survey demonstrated a significant decline in the TB burden 10 years after the implementation of DOTS, facilitated by a strategic public-private partnership.
