PREVALENCE OF TUBERCULOSIS AND ASSOCIATED FACTORS AMONG ADULT HOUSEHOLD CONTACTS OF SMEAR POSITIVE PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS PATIENTS TREATED IN PUBLIC HEALTH FACILITIES OF HARAMAYA DISTRICT, OROMIA REGION, EASTERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Background: Tuberculosis is an infectious airborne disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. It still remains a major public health problem which affects all age groups. Impact of risk factors at population level could vary depending on the local context, especially; risk of exposure is higher in household contact than members of the general population. Therefore, contact tracing is a key strategy for identifying tuberculosis case and provides additional support to the passive case finding. However, evidences on prevalence and associated factors of tuberculosis among household contacts of smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis case is limited in Ethiopia in general and in study area in particular. Objective: The aim of this study was to assess the prevalence and associated factors of tuberculosis among adult household contacts of smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients treated from July 1, 2017 to December 31, 2018 in Public health facility in Haramaya District, Oromia Region, Eastern Ethiopia, from February 20 to March 20, 2019. Methodology: Community based cross sectional study was conducted. Sample of 454 study participant were selected from all adult Household contacts of smear positive pulmonary TB patient treated from July 1, 2017 to December 31, 2018 by using systematic sampling method. Contacts were traced by home to home visits by data collectors. Data were collected using 5% pretest structured questionnaire and laboratory examination processed by using fluorescent smear microscopy. Data was double entered to Epidata-3.1 and transferred and analyzed by statistical package for social science (SPSS) version -23. Possible associations and statistical significance between variables was measured using crude and adjusted odds ratio, P value <0.05 was used to declare statistical significance. Result: The overall prevalence of tuberculosis was 35 (7.8 %) (95% CI: 5.8-10.0). Contacts eating meals less than three times per day were 4.3 times more likely to develop tuberculosis compared to counterpart (AOR= 4.3 :95% CI 1.61-11.55). Household contacts drinking raw milk were 4.1 times more likely to develop tuberculosis (AOR=4.1: 95% CI 1.43-11.90) compared to counterpart. Having family history of tuberculosis with more than one index case were 2.7 times (AOR= 2.7:95% CI: 1.02-6.92) more likely to develop tuberculosis than those having only one index case. Contacts living in poor ventilated houses had a risk of getting tuberculosis 4.0 times (AOR=4.0: 95% CI: 1.38-11.76), more likely than houses with good ventilation and contacts living in inadequate living room size were 3.4 times (AOR=3.4:95% CI, 1.30-8.86) more likely of getting tuberculosis compared to counterpart Conclusion: In this study prevalence of tuberculosis among adult household contacts of smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis is high. Eating meals less than three times per day, drinking raw milk, having family history of tuberculosis other than index case, living in poor ventilated houses and inadequate living room size (<16m2 ) were found to be contributors for tuberculosis infection in house-hold contacts. Therefore, in order to avert this condition improving consumption of meals per day, avoiding drinking raw milk and proper ventilation should be implemented according to the national protocol. Ministry of health and health facilities should play a role in providing awareness related to tuberculosis transmission.