• Wame Dikobe, Mooketsi Molefi, Bornapate Nkomo, Botshelo Kgwaadira, Boingotlo Gasenelwe, Esther Seloilwe, Yohanna Mashalla, and Tonya-Ascortt Mills.
• Ministry of Health, Department of Public Health, TB Program, Gaborone, Botswana.
• Afr Health Sci. 2021 May 1; 21 (Suppl): 64-71.

BackgroundIn high TB/HIV settings, the increased risk for TB amongst children exposed to HIV has been established through biomedical tests. Screening HIV exposed children for TB can improve early childhood TB detection and treatment.ObjectiveThis study assessed the utility of a modified World Health Organization (WHO) tool by including HIV variables, to determine TB exposure amongst HIV exposed children presenting to a "Well Child" Clinic (CWC).MethodsClinical data were obtained from medical records and/or from the caregivers of children presenting to CWC. Data was analyzed to explore factors associated with positive screening for TB, including being exposed to HIV and current HIV status.ResultsFive percent (55/1100) screened reported a close TB contact and 21% (n=231) had positive TB symptom screen. History of close TB contact was a risk factor for positive screening for TB symptoms (OR 1.89 CI 1.05-3.4) while being HIV negative was protective (OR 0.3, Cl 0.19-0.62). HIV exposure was associated with increased risk of TB exposure (OR 2.9 CI 1.61-5.19).ConclusionIntegrating HIV variables in the existing WHO screening tool for childhood TB can be useful in early detection and treatment of TB in HIV exposed children in resource limited settings.© 2021 Dikobe W et al.

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