Treatment outcomes of tuberculosis patients and associated factors in Bale Zone, Southeast Ethiopia: a retrospective study.

OBJECTIVE

This study assessed the outcome of tuberculosis treatment and associated factors in Bale Zone, Southeast Ethiopia in 2017.

METHODS

This was 5-year retrospective study of a health registry for tuberculosis patients, which was reviewed from 1 September 2011 to 30 August 2016. Data were analyzed, and descriptive and logistic regression analyses were used to identify the factors that were associated with tuberculosis treatment outcomes.

RESULTS

Among the 7205 tuberculosis patients, 6325 (87.8%) had a successful treatment outcome and 880 (12.2%) had an unsuccessful outcome. The age groups ≤14 years (adjusted odds ratio [AOR]=2.21), 15 to 24 years (AOR=1.61), 25 to 34 years (AOR=1.86), or 35 to 44 years (AOR=1.65); being treated at a hospital (AOR=1.63) or health center (AOR=2.52); pulmonary tuberculosis-positive (AOR=0.80); or extrapulmonary tuberculosis patients (AOR= 0.78) were the factors that were significantly associated with tuberculosis treatment outcome.

CONCLUSIONS

Public health facilities should pay special attention to the identified variables for tuberculosis prevention and control activities, especially focusing on supporting health workers who work at a health post (lowest level of Ethiopia's three-tiered healthcare system).