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Gender differences in relation to sputum submission and smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis in Malawi
M J Boeree1, A D Harries, P Godschalk
1National Tuberculosis Control Programme, Community Health, Science Unit, Lilongwe, Malawi.
Objective:
To examine gender differences in sputum submission and sputum smear positivity.
Methods:
Laboratory registers in all diagnostic units in eight districts in Malawi were examined for the years 1995 and 1996.
Results:
During a 12-month period (averaged between 1995 and 1996), 26,624 new TB suspects submitted sputum samples, 3282 of which (12.3%) were smear-positive. Significantly more males submitted sputum (52%) compared with females (48%), and significantly more males (53%) were smear-positive compared with females (47%, P < 0.05). Rates of sputum submission per 100,000 adults were also significantly higher for males (1203) than females (1032).
Conclusion:
In Malawi, fewer females are submitting sputum samples and are being diagnosed with smear-positive TB compared with males.