Evaluation of Tuberculosis Situation in Economic Cooperation Countries in 2009; Achievement and Gaps toward Millennium Development Goals

Abstract

Background: Evaluating the tuberculosis (TB) status of theEconomic Cooperation Organization (ECO) member countriesrelation to goal 6-c of the third millennium, which includes thatTB incidence, prevalence, and death rates should be halved by2015, compared with their level in 1990.Methods: In 2009, we have critically reviewed the countries'Millennium Development Goals (MDGs) reports and extracted thedata from the surveillance system and published and unpublisheddata. The main stakeholders, from both governmental andinternational organizations in the country have been visited andinterviewed by the research team as part of the data validationprocess.Results: The TB incidence is very heterogeneous among ECOcountries, which differ from 21.7 in Iran to 230.7 per 100,000in Tajikistan. TB incidence (per 100,000) is more than 100 in sixcountries and is from 50 to 100 in two countries and is less than 30in two countries. Only in two countries the crude death rate (CDR)is higher than 70%. In seven countries the death rate is higherthan 10 per 100,000. Two countries are among the 20 top worldcountries with the highest tuberculosis burden.Conclusion: There are some signs and signals indicating the badcondition of an ECO member including: incidence of more than50 per 100000, CDR of less than 70%, death rate more than 10 per100,000, and rating two member countries among 20 top countrieswith the highest burden in the world. Iran and Turkey could achieveMDGs by 2015, but if other countries do not prepare urgentintervention programs, they will not be able to fulfill the goals. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]