TB Mortality Causes in India

Puducherry has become the first Union Territory in India to integrate TB screening into the Family Adoption Programme, a major initiative in India’s ongoing war against tuberculosis (TB). This innovation addresses one of the most critical health challenges: TB mortality causes, particularly among high-risk populations.

This development is especially important for SSC aspirants, as it connects topics from General Awareness, Health Schemes, and Government Initiatives, making it a potential question in upcoming exams.

What Is the Family Adoption Programme?

The Family Adoption Programme, mandated by the National Medical Commission (NMC), involves medical students adopting 3 to 5 families and following up with them over three years.

In Puducherry, this programme has evolved to include mandatory TB screening, helping identify TB symptoms early and offering timely treatment — a direct intervention in reducing TB mortality causes in communities.

Understanding TB Mortality Causes in India

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health threat in India. A significant number of TB deaths occur after diagnosis, due to a mix of patient-level and system-level issues. Understanding these TB mortality causes is crucial to eliminate TB by 2025, in line with India's national goal.

Dr. Kavita Vasudevan, Head of Community Medicine at Indira Gandhi Medical College, highlights several findings from the use of Verbal Autopsies conducted in Puducherry. This process involves interviewing families of deceased TB patients to understand:

• Delay in TB diagnosis

• TB treatment failure

• Poor access to health services

• Malnutrition and co-morbidities

• Lack of adherence to TB treatment

These are the common reasons for tuberculosis-related deaths and are central to understanding and addressing TB mortality.

Key TB Mortality Causes Identified in Puducherry

Below are the leading TB mortality causes identified in the region:

1. Delay in TB Diagnosis

• Patients often delay seeking care or receive incorrect diagnoses.

• This delay in TB diagnosis allows the disease to worsen, increasing the chances of complications and death.

2. TB Treatment Failure

• Some patients either do not complete the full course of medication or develop TB drug resistance, which makes treatment less effective and mortality more likely.

3. Co-morbid Conditions

• How co-morbidities increase TB mortality risk is evident in patients suffering from diabetes, HIV, or chronic lung disease.

• These conditions weaken the body’s response to TB.

4. Malnutrition

• The role of malnutrition in TB-related mortality is often underestimated.

• Malnourished individuals are more likely to contract TB and less likely to recover fully.

5. Poor Adherence to Medication

• The effect of poor adherence to TB drugs on mortality is a critical factor.

• Many patients stop treatment once they feel better, leading to relapse or drug resistance.

6. Systemic Healthcare Failures

• Health system delays contributing to TB deaths are also responsible, especially in rural or under-resourced areas where diagnostics and medicines are delayed or unavailable.

Why Do TB Patients Die After Diagnosis?

Despite treatment availability, TB mortality persists due to:

• Patient delay in seeking TB treatment

• Late identification of drug-resistant TB

• Lack of awareness about the importance of completing the treatment course

Understanding why TB patients die after diagnosis is key to formulating effective intervention strategies.

Government and Medical College Initiatives in Puducherry

Puducherry’s success is rooted in collaboration between 9 medical colleges, the State TB Cell, and the Department of Health. Their contributions include:

• Active case finding in vulnerable areas

• Use of AI-based handheld chest X-rays

• Advanced molecular diagnostics like NAAT (Nucleic Acid Amplification Test)

• TB diagnosis and real-time tracking of patient progress

• Community awareness through IEC activities

These steps address both risk factors for TB mortality and the broader TB mortality cause spectrum.

About the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP)

Puducherry’s NTEP operations include:

• One NTEP district covering 13.92 lakh people

• 7 TB Units and 28 Diagnostic Centres

• One Intermediate Reference Laboratory (IRL) with culture and drug susceptibility testing (DST)

This infrastructure is pivotal in reducing the TB mortality causes and improving public health outcomes.

Relevance for SSC Aspirants

For students preparing for SSC CGL, CHSL, MTS, and other government exams, knowledge of topics like TB mortality causes, health policies, and innovative public health models is essential.

Expect questions based on:

• Government health programmes

• Medical innovations in public health

• Role of medical institutions in community outreach

Final Thoughts

By integrating TB screening into the Family Adoption Programme, Puducherry has taken a decisive step in fighting the root TB mortality.

With the proactive involvement of medical students, advanced diagnostics, and patient tracking, this model is showing promising results in improving early TB diagnosis, reducing delays, and saving lives.

This case study not only illustrates successful public health innovation but also equips SSC aspirants with rich content for current affairs, essay writing, and general awareness preparation.