{
  "abstract": "Background Evaluating progress towards WHO End Tuberculosis Strategy goals is crucial for high burden countries like the Republic of Congo. This study analysed trends in tuberculosis (TB) incidence, treatment, care quality and operational research activities from 2016 to 2023 to assess the country’s control efforts.Methods An 8-year retrospective study of TB incidence/mortality trends was performed using a Joint Point Analysis V.5.2.0. We extracted annual national and WHO TB programme data for the period under review.Results From 2016 to 2023, the TB incidence rate decreased by 2.6% (annual percentage change (APC)=−0.33, 95% CI− 0.5 to −0.005; p<0.05). The proportion of bacteriologically confirmed cases significantly increased (APC=4.2, 95% CI 0.9 to 7.7; p<0.001), while treatment coverage rose by 22% (APC=2.81, 95% CI 1.1 to 4.5; p<0.05). The proportion of notified patients with TB tested for HIV significantly increased (APC=25, 95% CI 2.6 to 52.63; p<0.05), but the rate of patients with TB testing HIV positive decreased significantly (APC=−13.9, 95% CI −23.9 to −2.6; p<0.05). The proportion of unsuccessful treatment outcomes showed a non-significant decline, with an APC of 4.90% (95% CI −11.7% to 2.3%; p=0.1), while TB-related deaths increased non-significantly, with an APC of 3.76% (95% CI −1.3% to 9.2%; p=0.12). Patients with TB/HIV on ART increased by 51% (APC=6.4, 95% CI −23.9 to −2.6; p<0.05). No operational research activity has been carried out throughout the review period.Conclusion The observed progress was insufficient, as the Republic of Congo failed to meet the 20% TB incidence reduction target for 2020 and is unlikely to achieve the 50% reduction goal for 2025. More investment in case detection, diagnosis, treatment quality and the implementation of operational research activities is needed to achieve global goals.",
  "authors": [
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Fondation Congolaise pour la recherche medicale, Brazzaville, Congo",
        "Faculté des sciences et techniques, université Marien Ngouabi, Brazzaville, Congo"
      ],
      "name": "Freisnel Hermeland Mouzinga"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Fondation Congolaise pour la recherche medicale, Brazzaville, Congo",
        "Faculté des sciences et techniques, université Marien Ngouabi, Brazzaville, Congo",
        "Programme National de Lutte contre la Tuberculose, Brazzaville, Congo",
        "Laboratoire National de Référence des Mycobactéries, Brazzaville, Brazzaville, Congo"
      ],
      "name": "Darrel Ornelle Elion Assiana"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Fondation Congolaise pour la recherche medicale, Brazzaville, Congo",
        "Faculté des sciences et techniques, université Marien Ngouabi, Brazzaville, Congo"
      ],
      "name": "Mita Naomie Merveille Dello"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Fondation Congolaise pour la recherche medicale, Brazzaville, Congo",
        "Faculté des sciences et techniques, université Marien Ngouabi, Brazzaville, Congo"
      ],
      "name": "Breli Bonheur Ngouama"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Programme National de Lutte contre la Tuberculose, Brazzaville, Congo",
        "Faculté des Sciences de la Santé, Université Marien Ngouabi, Brazzaville, Congo"
      ],
      "name": "Franck Hardain Okemba Okombi"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Programme National de Lutte contre la Tuberculose, Brazzaville, Congo"
      ],
      "name": "Baurel Arnaud Akiera"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Center for Tropical Medicine and Travel Medicine, Department of Infectious Diseases, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, location AMC, Amsterdam Infection & Immunity, Amsterdam Public Health – Global Health, Amsterdam, The Netherlands",
        "Institute of Infectious Diseases and Molecular Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa",
        "Centre de Recherches Médicales de Lambaréné, Lambaréné, Gabon",
        "Masanga Medical Research Unit (MMRU), Masanga, Sierra Leone",
        "Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tubingen, Germany"
      ],
      "name": "Martin P Grobusch"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Fondation Congolaise pour la recherche medicale, Brazzaville, Congo",
        "Faculté des Sciences de la Santé, Université Marien Ngouabi, Brazzaville, Congo"
      ],
      "name": "Alain Maxime Mouanga"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Fondation Congolaise pour la recherche medicale, Brazzaville, Congo",
        "Faculté des sciences et techniques, université Marien Ngouabi, Brazzaville, Congo"
      ],
      "name": "Viny Andzi Elenga"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Faculté des sciences et techniques, université Marien Ngouabi, Brazzaville, Congo"
      ],
      "name": "Etienne Nguimbi"
    },
    {
      "affiliations": [
        "Fondation Congolaise pour la recherche medicale, Brazzaville, Congo",
        "Institute of Tropical Medicine, University of Tübingen, Tubingen, Germany"
      ],
      "name": "Francine Ntoumi"
    }
  ],
  "title": "Eight-year tuberculosis epidemic trends in the Republic of Congo, a high TB burden country: progress and gaps towards end-TB targets",
  "uid": "bf123b16-bfcd-57b0-93dd-0a5cd4807f87"
}