Role of socio-demographical factors on tuberculosis outcome in Yemen

Tuberculosis (TB) is an infection disease caused by an organism called Mycobacterium tuberculosis (tubercle bacilli). Tuberculosis remains the most common infection worldwide (Organization & World Health Organization, 2013). Yemen situated in WHO Eastern Mediterranean Region and ranked as intermediate TB-burdened countries. TB considers as one of the main health problems; it ranks as the fourth in the priority of the public health issue (NTCP, 2010). The study was conducted to evaluate the Socio-Demographical variables on tuberculosis treatment outcome.

A Prospective cohort multicenter study was carried out among Tuberculosis (TB) patients, to find out the socio-demographic characteristics and factors affecting the treatment outcome. The study was conducted in two major prevalence TB cities in Yemen i.e. Alhodiah city and Taiz city. Questionnaires were given to the TB patient during their registration in TB health center after the confirmation of their TB diagnosis. All Patients were followed up until the end of their treatment.

A total of 413 smear positive, smear negative and extrapulmonary tuberculosis were involved in the study. The responses rate among overall TB patients at the beginning of treatment was 67%. Patients were followed up and were interviewed again at the end of intensive phase and end of treatment. Survey shows that majority of TB patient were smeared positive pulmonary (66.1) followed by Extra Pulmonary (27.6) and lowest were from Smear Negative Patient (6.3). Prevalence of TB diagnosis with respective to male and female were same. The majority of Tb cases were found in patient age 16-25 (41.9), urban residence (68.8), illiterate (59.8) unemployment (59.1), chewing khat (61.7), monthly income were less than 50dollars/month (67.3). No stigma (59.6) and good knowledge of TB patient (86.4) was found good in the-the majority of TB patient.

By evaluating the socio-demographic risk factors, pharmacist and health care providers can optimize and indicate the factors which play a role in successful and unsuccessful treatment outcome.