Consolidated guidance on tuberculosis data generation and use: module 3: national tuberculosis prevalence surveys – World Health Organization (WHO)

Report on National Tuberculosis Prevalence Surveys and Alignment with Sustainable Development Goal 3

Introduction: A Strategic Tool for Global Health Targets

National tuberculosis (TB) prevalence surveys are a critical instrument for achieving Sustainable Development Goal 3 (SDG 3), which aims to ensure good health and well-being for all. These surveys provide nationally representative measurements of the TB disease burden, offering vital data for tracking progress towards global health targets. By generating insights into disease prevalence, these surveys directly support the refinement of national TB programmes, enhancing their capacity for effective diagnosis and treatment in line with SDG objectives.

Contribution to SDG Target 3.3: Ending the TB Epidemic

The primary function of these surveys is to provide the empirical evidence necessary to monitor progress towards SDG Target 3.3: to end the epidemic of tuberculosis by 2030. Their contribution is multifaceted:

• They establish a precise, point-in-time measurement of the national TB burden.
• They enable the assessment of disease trends over time, which is essential for evaluating the effectiveness of public health interventions.
• They help identify systemic weaknesses in national TB diagnosis and treatment pathways, allowing for targeted improvements.
• They are particularly crucial in nations where national disease notification and vital registration systems are not yet sufficiently developed to reliably track disease burden, ensuring that progress can be measured inclusively across all settings.

Global Implementation and Impact (2007-2024)

Historical Survey Implementation

Between 2007 and 2024, a significant global effort was undertaken to measure the TB burden using standardized methodologies recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO). This initiative has been instrumental in shaping the global response to TB.

• A total of 36 surveys were successfully implemented.
• These surveys were conducted in 32 different countries.
• Collectively, the participating nations accounted for over 60% of the world’s TB disease burden during this period.

Updated Guidance for the Final Push to 2030 and Beyond

A Renewed Framework for 2025-2035

A third edition of the WHO guidance has been developed to support national surveys implemented from 2025 up to 2035. This updated framework is designed to equip countries with the most advanced tools and methodologies to accelerate progress in the final decade of the SDGs and to plan for the post-2030 health agenda.

Key Revisions to Enhance Data Quality and Strategic Impact

The new edition incorporates substantial updates to strengthen survey design, execution, and data utilization, ensuring that national efforts are maximally aligned with SDG 3. Key changes include:

1. Diagnostic Algorithms: Major revisions to recommended diagnostic algorithms and associated case definitions to improve accuracy.
2. Data Management: Expanded guidance on data management to ensure high-quality, secure, and actionable information.
3. Methodological Updates: Updated guidance on sampling design, chest radiography, clinical management, and field operations.
4. Expanded Scope: New chapters dedicated to testing for HIV and comorbidities, survey monitoring, and ensuring comparability with previous surveys.
5. Data for Action: New sections on the effective reporting, dissemination, and strategic use of survey data to inform policy and programming.

1. Which SDGs are addressed or connected to the issues highlighted in the article?

   SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being

   • The article is entirely focused on National Tuberculosis (TB) Prevalence Surveys. These surveys are a critical public health tool used to measure, monitor, and ultimately reduce the burden of a major infectious disease. This directly aligns with the overarching goal of SDG 3, which is to “ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages.” The article’s purpose of providing guidance to improve TB diagnosis and treatment is central to achieving good health outcomes.

2. What specific targets under those SDGs can be identified based on the article’s content?

   Target 3.3: By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases and combat hepatitis, water-borne diseases and other communicable diseases.

   • The article explicitly states that the surveys “allow assessment of trends and tracking of progress towards national and global targets for reductions in TB disease burden.” This directly supports the objective of ending the TB epidemic as outlined in Target 3.3. Furthermore, the article mentions that the new survey guidance includes “new chapters on testing for HIV and comorbidities,” which links the survey’s scope to the AIDS component of the same target.

3. Are there any indicators mentioned or implied in the article that can be used to measure progress towards the identified targets?

   Indicator 3.3.2: Tuberculosis incidence per 100,000 population.

   • The article states that the surveys provide a “nationally representative measurement of the burden of TB disease in the population.” While the surveys measure prevalence (the number of cases at a specific point in time), this data is a primary tool for estimating TB incidence (the number of new cases over a period) and tracking the overall disease burden. This measurement is the core component needed to monitor progress against Indicator 3.3.2, especially in countries that lack high-quality routine notification systems as mentioned in the text.

   Indicator 3.3.1: Number of new HIV infections per 1,000 uninfected population, by sex, age and key populations.

   • The article’s reference to the new guidance including “testing for HIV and comorbidities” implies that data on HIV status will be collected during these large-scale national surveys. This data helps to understand the co-epidemic of TB and HIV and contributes to the surveillance efforts necessary for monitoring Indicator 3.3.1, particularly within the vulnerable population of TB patients.

4. Create a table with three columns titled ‘SDGs, Targets and Indicators’ to present the findings from analyzing the article. In this table, list the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), their corresponding targets, and the specific indicators identified in the article.

   SDGs	Targets	Indicators
   SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being	Target 3.3: By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases…	Indicator 3.3.2: Tuberculosis incidence per 100,000 population. (The article discusses surveys that provide a “measurement of the burden of TB disease,” which is used to track this indicator).
   SDG 3: Good Health and Well-being	Target 3.3: By 2030, end the epidemics of AIDS, tuberculosis, malaria and neglected tropical diseases…	Indicator 3.3.1: Number of new HIV infections per 1,000 uninfected population… (The article mentions that new survey guidance includes “testing for HIV,” which contributes to monitoring this indicator).

Source: who.int