Summary: Monitoring and Performance Framework for Tuberculosis Programs for First Nations On-Reserve

This publication outlines established tuberculosis (TB) reporting requirements for performance management, surveillance and evaluation of Health Canada's TB programming. It provides guidance for enhanced monitoring in areas experiencing outbreaks and ongoing high incidence.

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Framework goals

The framework's goals are to:

  • outline current reporting requirements for Health Canada's First Nations and Inuit Health Branch (FNIHB) TB programming
  • describe new recommendations for TB programs through an enhanced approach to monitoring TB in high-incidence communities
  • support FNIHB TB programming through continuous quality improvement

The framework is informed by Health Canada's Strategy Against Tuberculosis for First Nations On-Reserve. This strategy identifies outbreaks and communities with ongoing high incidence as areas for:

  • targeted approaches
  • enhanced programming

Current tuberculosis reporting requirements

TB programs are required to report on cases of TB at a variety of levels, including:

Mandatory case reporting and the Canadian Tuberculosis Reporting System

Active TB reporting is mandatory by law in each province and territory in Canada. Provinces and territories voluntarily report active TB cases to the Public Health Agency of Canada. This is done through the CTBRS.

Organization: Health Canada

Type: Report

Date published: 2016-02-12

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Health Canada programming

Reporting requirements are based on FNIHB's program alignment architecture. Indicators are determined at the departmental or branch level with input from programs.

Data for national-level reporting are collected from both national and regional components of the FNIHB program.

Each First Nations community with a contribution agreement with Health Canada is required to complete FNIHB's Community Based Reporting Template.

Recommendations for enhanced tuberculosis monitoring

Evidence suggests that rates of TB for First Nations on-reserve are driven by events in a limited number of communities experiencing:

  • repeated outbreaks
  • higher incidence over time

The strategy committed to targeting approaches for reducing TB in First Nations on-reserve communities. It is expected that reducing TB in these communities will significantly contribute to decreasing the overall rate of the illness.

Enhanced tuberculosis monitoring in high-incidence communities

In collaboration with partners and experts, the FNIHB TB program has developed an approach for enhanced monitoring of TB in high-incidence communities. This framework can be used by TB programs to help determine underlying issues perpetuating TB in a community.

This approach should be treated as a set of recommendations to help guide and complement local TB program activities. However, these recommendations are not currently linked to any reporting requirements. Regions and/or communities can use or adapt this approach based on their:

  • needs
  • resources
  • circumstances

Continuous quality improvement for Health Canada's tuberculosis programming for First Nations on-reserve

As a response to the commitment made in the strategy, this framework is another tool to support continuous quality improvement. The framework supports FNIHB TB programming by using data and information for the improvement of policies and programming.

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