Research Article
Erdaw Tachbele*, Biruhalem
Abstract
Objective: Monitoring of tuberculosis treatment outcome is scarcely done in Ethiopia. This study investigated the outcomes of tuberculosis treatment at Bale Robe Hospital in Oromia, Ethiopia. Methods: A retrospective analysis of the profile and treatment outcome of all tuberculosis patients registered from September, 2007 to August, 2012 at tuberculosis Clinic was conducted. Patients’ socio-demographic, clinical, laboratory and treatment outcomes were were extracted from registration document. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression was used to determine treatment outcomes predictor variables. Results: We analyzed treatment outcomes of 916 tuberculosis patients, of which 544 (59.6 %) were males. Of these 180 (19.7%) were cured, 536 (58.5%) were found completed their treatment, while 82 (9%) were died, in addition, 55 (6.0%) and 54 (5.9%) were defaulters and transferred out respectively. Overall, 716 (78.2%) had a successful and 200 (21.8%) a poor treatment outcome. Being female (AOR 1.23, P=0.05), HIV positive (0.48, P<0.001) and new TB patients (AOR 2.17, P=0.002) were significantly associated with treatment outcome. Patients aged ≤ 14 had significantly high treatment success rate (AOR 4.99, P=0.003) followed by 35-44 years (AOR 3.5, P=0.009) and 25-34 years (AOR 2.52, P=0.029). Tuberculosis patients with HIV co-infection (AOR 4.32, P=<0.001), smear negative pulmonary tuberculosis (AOR 2.00, P=0.05) and age ≥ 65 years (AOR 5.50, P=0.03) were more likely to experience death than their counter parts. Conclusion: The treatment success rate of 78.2% tuberculosis patients was fairly good. However, a high proportion of patients (9%) death and 22.2% of HIV prevalence among TB patients is a serious public health concern that needs to be addressed urgently in the area.