Self-Screening in the Family Members of Tuberculosis Patients: A Systematic Review

Background: Public awareness and knowledge about tuberculosis (TB) are still limited, which increases the risk of TB spread among vulnerable individuals. This systematic review aimed to identify effectiveness of self-screening in reducing TB transmission among family members of TB patients. Methods: This systematic review was carried out on articles published between 2008 and 2021. The articles were retrieved from online databases including Scopus, Wiley Online Library, Cochrane Library, PubMed, and Google Scholar. All quantitative studies on household or community based self-screening for TB were included in the study. Results: eligible articles were included to analysis. Early detection of TB transmission could be done through tuberculosis counselling and household screening, including self-screening for TB household contacts. Conclusion: The management of self-screening of household contacts of TB patients is very important for reducing TB spread.