BibTex format
@article{Meghji:2026,
author = {Meghji, J},
journal = {BMJ Open},
title = {The ITARA research programme: investigating Integrated Tuberculosis and Respiratory care in Africa using transdisciplinary methods},
year = {2026}
}
RIS format (EndNote, RefMan)
TY - JOUR
AB - IntroductionPulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and chronic respiratory diseases (CRDs) are closely linked. Affected groups present with similar symptoms, and share many risk factors (E.g. Poverty related factors, smoking, occupational exposures). PTB is itself an independent risk factor for chronic lung disease. However, in many high TB-incidence settings health services for these conditions are provided separately, with little integration of prevention, diagnosis, or care.Methods and analysisWe describe a transdisciplinary programme of research investigating strategies for integrated TB-CRD care in Arusha, Tanzania, Nairobi, Kenya and Lagos, Nigeria, using clinical, health economic, health systems, and qualitative research methods. A prospective clinical cohort study will describe the burden and impact of non-TB respiratory disease (E.g. Asthma, COPD, post-TB lung disease) amongst adolescents and adults presenting to primary and secondary health facilities with chronic cough, who would normally be managed via TB care pathways. Health economics methods will explore patient costs of non-TB respiratory disease, facility-level costs of integrated TB/respiratory diagnostics, and will develop a modelling framework to estimate the costs and consequences of integration more broadly. In-depth interviews, focus group discussions, observations and participatory methods will be used to explore lived experiences of chronic respiratory symptoms, disease and exposures amongst patients and providers, and to identify and address challenges around respiratory health and care. Lastly, existing TB and CRD health care services and systems in our three research sites will be described, and local, national, and policy level understandings of ‘integration’ of TB and CRD care will be explored. Together, the findings of this work will be used to develop context informed model(s) of integrated TB-CRD care, and a theory of change and framework for evaluation in future implementation st
AU - Meghji,J
PY - 2026///
SN - 2044-6055
TI - The ITARA research programme: investigating Integrated Tuberculosis and Respiratory care in Africa using transdisciplinary methods
T2 - BMJ Open
ER -
