Factors influencing Prevalence of MDR-TB among TB patients admitted to TB ward at St. Kizito hospital maternity, Karamoja sub region

Kodet Maurice and Joseph Musiitwa

Faculty of Clinical Medicine and Dentistry, Kampala International University, Uganda

ABSTRACT

The increasing incidence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) poses a significant threat to global TB eradication efforts. The rapid spread of MDR-TB has garnered global concern. This study aimed to identify factors contributing to the high prevalence of MDR-TB among TB patients at St. Kizito hospital maternity, located in the Napak District of the Karamoja sub-region. A hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2022 to March 2023, involving tuberculosis patients receiving care and health workers at St. Kizito Hospital maternity. Data were collected using interviewer-administered questionnaires. A sample size of 55 respondents was targeted. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 17. The prevalence and associated factors of MDR-TB were computed using bivariate and multivariate statistical analyses. Variables with p-values <0.05 were considered statistically significant at the multivariate level. Informed consent was obtained prior to enrollment, participation was voluntary, and privacy and confidentiality were maintained throughout the study. A total of 50 participants completed the study, yielding a response rate of 90.9%. The majority of respondents were male (35, 70%) and aged between 50–56 years (40, 80%). The prevalence of MDR-TB was 14% (7 patients). Among the 7 MDR-TB cases, 4 patients (57.1%) had HIV comorbidity, 1 (14.3%) had hepatitis B, 1 (14.3%) had cancer, and 1 (14.3%) had asthma. Multivariate analysis at a 95% confidence interval revealed significant associations with MDR-TB. Factors included age below 50 years (aOR = 14.16, p-value = 0.001), positive HIV status (aOR = 4.39, p-value = 0.034), a history of previous TB treatment (aOR = 7.16, p-value = 0.001), lack of formal education (aOR = 2.51, p-value = 0.017), and experiencing TB symptoms for over one year. The study also found that the facility had a well-organized laboratory network for MDR-TB case detection. However, challenges such as inadequate Drug Susceptibility Testing (DST), inconsistent infection prevention and control measures, delays in seeking medical treatment, and insufficient financing of MDR-TB-related activities were highlighted. 

Keywords: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), Prevalence and risk factors, HIV comorbidity, Drug Susceptibility Testing (DST), Karamoja sub-region

CITE AS: Kodet Maurice and Joseph Musiitwa (2025). Factors influencing Prevalence of MDR-TB among TB patients admitted to TB ward at St. Kizito hospital maternity, Karamoja sub region. IDOSR JOURNAL OF SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH 10(1):27-41. https://doi.org/10.59298/IDOSRJSR/2024/10.1.27410