Area of Science:

• Epidemiology
• Public Health
• Infectious Diseases

Context:

• Tuberculosis (TB) treatment aims for recovery and preventing drug resistance, but faces challenges from TB/HIV coinfection and multidrug resistance.
• The TB prevention and control program requires updated strategies to address persistent recurrence.
• Understanding local risk factors is essential for effective TB control in Kisangani.

Purpose:

• To identify specific risk factors associated with tuberculosis recurrence in Kisangani.
• To provide data for targeted interventions to reduce TB relapse rates.

Summary:

• Age over 65, contact with known TB cases, crowded living with unknown TB cases, mining work, and alcoholism were identified as significant risk factors for TB recurrence.
• High rates of bacteriological reconversion (99%) were observed, though not directly associated with identified risk groups.
• The study highlights that tuberculosis recurrence is a substantial problem in Kisangani, necessitating strengthened preventive measures.

Impact:

• Findings can inform public health policies and interventions to mitigate TB recurrence in Kisangani.
• Identifying key risk factors allows for focused prevention efforts, potentially reducing disease transmission and drug resistance.
• This research contributes to the global understanding of TB recurrence and its management in urban settings.