An Investigation into Implications of Tuberculosis Control Efforts in Pakistan: A Comparative Approach

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the difference of Tuberculosis (TB) related information in diagnosed TB patients and healthy individuals in relation to the implications of National Tuberculosis Program (NTP) control efforts. Study Design and Setting: This comparative case-control study was conducted from May to December 2022 in public sector tertiary care setups of Karachi. Methodology: In this case control study, 100 hospitalized diagnosed patients of TB were compared with 155 healthy individuals from May to December 2022. We analyzed sociodemographic characteristics of both groups related to the information for transmission and prevention of TB, as a basic element for the disease control. Result: TB patients were more likely to be uneducated, have low household income and positive family history of TB as compared to non-TB (OR 0.52, 0.30, 0.40). 18% of TB patients believed that TB infected person cannot be a source of spread to cause TB disease (OR=4.7; P=0.006). There was a statistically significant association among both the groups deemed to malnutrition and multiple households as the risk factors of tuberculosis (P=0.002 and <0.001 respectively Conclusion: TB related information with respect to its cause, preventive and treatment was insufficient in both study groups leading to delay in TB treatment and increase mortality from the disease. Health education interventional strategies, focused on primitive and advanced TB related information are needed in general population with special attention on low socioeconomic groups of community, and the population living in isolated and remote areas.