Assessment of Treatment Outcomes of Tuberculosis patients in a Rural Comprehensive Health Care Centre, Benue State, North Central Nigeria

Abstract

Despite the availability of effective intervention programs over the years, tuberculosis remains a major global health problem. It causes ill-health among millions of people each year and ranks alongside the Human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) as a leading cause of death worldwide. The aim of this study is to assess the outcome of tuberculosis treatment in a Rural Primary Health Care Centre, Benue State, North Central Nigeria. A three-year retrospective study was employed to review 150 tuberculosis cases treated from January 2014 - December 2016. Data were analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) version 20 and presented as tables and charts. The relationship between independent and outcome variables were tested with Chi-square test and P-value was set at 0.05. Of the 150 Tuberculosis patients treated, 84(56.0%) were males while 66(44.0%) were females. More than two-thirds (77.3%) of the patients had pulmonary tuberculosis. The successful treatment rate was 60.0% (32.7% treatment completed and 27.3% cured). Over twelve percent defaulted, 10.7% were lost to follow up, 6.7% were transferred out and 0.7% died. In this study, the successful treatment outcome was lower than the National target .The relationship between the disease sites; HIV status, Cotrimoxazole prophylaxis and the treatment outcome were statistically significant. Directly Observed Treatment Short Course (DOTS) providers should address issue of hindrances to adherence to treatment in order to improve the treatment success rate.