Treatment outcomes among smear positive tuberculosis patients in Dire Dawa Administration, East Ethiopia

Abstract

Introduction: Tuberculosis is one of the leading causes of death from infectious disease worldwide, and it kills around 1.5 million people in a year. This study was identified treatment outcome of smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis and its associated factors.

Method: A retrospective medical record review of 1233 spear positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients registered from July 01/ 2010 to June 30/2013 in randomly selected six public health facilities were undertaken. Univariate, bivariate analysis, chi- square test and multivariable logistic analysis was conducted with consideration of P value < 0.05 with 95% CI.

Results: 1022 (83.0%) end with favorable treatment outcome, while 270 (17.0%) ends with unfavorable treatment outcome. In multivariable logistic regression, the patients who had no treatment supporter or contact person AOR=2.21 with 95% CI (1.58, 3.26), being treatment failure category were AOR=6.35 with 95% CI (2.51, 16.14) and sputum smear positive at end of 5th months were AOR=16.7 with 95% CI (11.21, 23.42).

Conclusion: the following factors were identified as determinants of unfavorable treatment outcome: having no treatment supporter, treatment failure category and smear positive at end of 5thmonth. The tuberculosis patients should be supported during treatment and restrict monitoring and evaluation of patients during Directly Observed Treatment Short course (DOTS) were required.