Search

Introduction: In low-income countries such as the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), the strategies implemented to combat tuberculosis (TB) are threatened by the emergence of non-communicable diseases (NCDs), such as diabetes mellitus (DM). Very little data on the implementation of services to manage TB-DM are generally available in these low-income countries. The aim of this study was therefore to assess the level of implementation of DM screening and treatment activities in TB unit clinics (TUCs) in Lubumbashi, DRC. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted using the Service Availability and Readiness Assessment (SARA) questionnaire from June to July 2023. Fourteen tracer items, divided into 4 domains—i) guidelines and staff, ii) basic equipment, iii) diagnostic capacity, and iv) drugs and products—were assessed. The readiness indices were compared according to the managerial instance and the activity package organized in each of the selected TUCs. A Chi2 test with a significance level set at p = 0.05 was used for this comparison, and Cronbach's α coefficient was calculated to estimate the reliability or consistency of the questionnaire. Results: Of the 35 TUCs visited, 19 (54.3%) were public health facilities, and 20 (57.1%) had a supplementary package of activities (SPA). The readiness of TUCs for providing DM diagnostic and treatment services was around 50%. A statistically significant difference was observed based on the managerial instance overseeing the TUC (p = 0.00) and the package of activities offered within these institutions (p = 0.00). Conclusion: The current study has underscored the limited capability of TUCs in Lubumbashi to provide services for managing TB-DM comorbidity in DRC. It is imperative to implement strategies aimed at enhancing this capacity and taking into account the local context and influencing factors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]