Prevalence and Associated Factors of Children Tuberculosis in Southeast Asia Countries: A Systematic Review

Southeast Asia (SEA) countries are characterised by a high burden of tuberculosis (TB). This research seeks to compile evidence of the prevalence and risk factors associated with TB among children in SEA countries. The searching of articles was conducted for four databases (PubMed, Scopus, Embase, and the Web of Science) published between 2013 and 2023 in the English language. The quality of articles was evaluated using the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) Critical Appraisal Tool for Assessment of Risk Bias for Cross-Sectional studies. This research was reported using the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guideline. Eight studies were included in the systematic review. The prevalence of paediatric TB in SEA countries varies between 1.50% and 38.10%. Risk factors associated with the occurrence of TB in children include the nutritional status, the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccine status, close contact with TB patients, parental smoking behaviour, unhealthy living conditions, and socioeconomic determinants. The continued high prevalence of TB in several SEA countries, particularly among children, remains a significant public health concern. The various risk factors summarised can serve as a basis for implementing interventions aimed at reducing cases and preventing the transmission of TB among children.