A community-based Isoniazid preventive therapy for the prevention of childhood tuberculosis in Ethiopia.

Background: Children in contact with adults with tuberculosis should receive Isoniazid preventive therapy (IPT) but this is rarely implemented. Aim: To assess whether a community-based approach providing IPT at household level improves uptake and adherence in Ethiopia. Methods: Contacts of adults with smear-positive pulmonary TB (PTB+) were visited at home and examined by Health Extension Workers (HEWs). Asymptomatic children <5 years were offered IPT and followed monthly. Results: 5,345 (87%) of 6,161 PTB+ cases identified by the HEWs in the community were visited, identifying 24,267 contacts. 7,226 (29.8%) contacts were children <15 and 3,102 (12.7%) of them were