Tuberculosis incidence and treatment outcomes in the Tarmaber District, Ethiopia: a five-year retrospective study

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health challenge in Ethiopia, despite ongoing efforts to enhance detection and treatment. Understanding the local TB incidence and treatment outcomes is essential for developing targeted control strategies. This study aimed to assess TB incidence and treatment outcomes over a five-year period in the Tarmaber district of the North Shewa Zone, Ethiopia.

A five-year retrospective data were collected from TB registry books at Debre-Sina and Armanya Health Centers between January 1, 2014, and December 31, 2018. The study included 221 individuals diagnosed and treated under Directly Observed Treatment Short-course program. The study used passive case finding at the health centers, consistent with routine DOTS service delivery. Data on demographic characteristics, TB classification, HIV status, and treatment outcomes were extracted and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive statistics and chi-square tests were conducted to assess TB trends and associations with significance set at p < 0.05.

Among a total of 1,291 presumptive TB screened over five-years study period, 221 cases (17.1%) were confirmed as active tuberculosis. Of the 221 individuals suffering from TB, 79.2% had pulmonary TB (35.7% smear-positive and 43.4% smear-negative), and 19.9% had extra-pulmonary TB. It was more prevalent among males (52.5%) and individuals aged from 15 to 44 years (62%). Urban residents accounted for 56.6% of cases. The overall TB/HIV co-infection rate was 19%, with the majority (11.3%) being smear-negative. The average case detection rate for smear-positive TB was 35.8%, and the treatment success rate across the study period was 86.4%. A slight increase in TB incidence was observed in 2017.

The study revealed a declining trend in TB incidence alongside relatively high treatment success rates. However, the low detection rate for smear-positive TB and the rising trend of TB/HIV co-infection highlights the need for strengthened diagnostic capacity, improved screening, and integrated TB/HIV services in the district.