Objective To explore the feasibility and acceptability of stool sampling and testing for childhood tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis among adolescents, child caregivers and healthcare workers (HCWs) who participated in a diagnostic accuracy study and among National Leprosy and TB Control Programme (NLTP) officials in The Gambia. Design This was a qualitative cross-sectional study that used semi-structured interviews.
Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis framework guided our analysis. Setting The study was conducted in The Gambia at the TB clinic of the Medical Research Council Unit The Gambia at the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine.
Participants We purposively sampled and interviewed 27 participants, including adolescents and caregivers of children who participated in and provided stool samples for the diagnostic accuracy study of the Childhood TB Research in West Africa (CHIRWA-2), HCWs involved in the CHIRWA-2 study, and NLTP officials responsible for policy and programme implementation in The Gambia. Results HCWs and NLTP officials described stool sampling and testing as feasible for TB diagnosis, given the ease of collection and the potential to integrate them into existing workflows.
BMJ Open published a clinical update in Research Highlights on 16 Jun 2026.
The item focuses on What is the feasibility and acceptability of stool sampling and testing for childhood tuberculosis diagnosis?
A qualitative study in The Gambia.
Review the original article for the full source wording and details.