A call to action: Addressing the reproductive health needs of women with drug-resistant tuberculosis

S Afr Med J. 2016 Mar 17;106(4):30-1. doi: 10.7196/SAMJ.2016.v106i4.10205.

Abstract

Although there is substantial risk to maternal and neonatal health in the situation of pregnancy during treatment for rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (RR-TB), there is little evidence to guide clinicians as to how to manage this complexity. Of the 49 680 patients initiated on RR-TB treatment from 2009 to 2014 in South Africa, 47% were women and 80% of them were in their reproductive years (15 - 44). There is an urgent need for increased evidence of the safety of RR-TB treatment during pregnancy, increased access to contraception during RR-TB treatment, and inclusion of reproductive health in research on the prevention and treatment of TB.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't
  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Antibiotics, Antitubercular / adverse effects
  • Antibiotics, Antitubercular / therapeutic use*
  • Contraception
  • Evidence-Based Medicine
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Pregnancy
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / drug therapy*
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / epidemiology
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / prevention & control
  • Rifampin / adverse effects
  • Rifampin / therapeutic use*
  • South Africa / epidemiology
  • Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / drug therapy*
  • Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / epidemiology
  • Tuberculosis, Multidrug-Resistant / prevention & control
  • Young Adult

Substances

  • Antibiotics, Antitubercular
  • Rifampin