The impact of Covid-19 on Tuberculosis (TB) care among admitted medical patients in Zomba, Malawi: a cross-sectional study

Background: The covid-19 pandemic is a burden on health systems and economies, with disruptive effects on health service delivery. There is limited research on the impact of the Covid 19 pandemic on the presumptive TB management in admitted patients. Aim: This study investigates the impact of covid-19 pandemic on TB services among admitted patients. Methods: A retrospective cross-sectional study of all presumptive patients admitted to the medical department before the Covid 19 pandemic (March 2019 to February 2020) and during the Covid 19 pandemic (March 2020 to February 2021). Data will be analysed using repeated measures ANOVA on Stata.BE. Setting: Zomba Central Hospital, a government referral facility in south-eastern Malawi.  Results: The results of this study will lead to further clinical trials, improved TB health services at Zomba Central Hospital and improved population health. Results will be shared with Zomba hospital staff and medical department, Zomba TB district officials and Malawi national programme TB. The results will be published in peer-reviewed journals in a timely manner. Conclusion: Despite the similarity of Covid-19 and TB, routine concurrent screening was never conducted, instead TB services were questioned to conflict with the pandemic. TB and Covid-19 co-infection may have a worse prognosis than single infection