Incidence of tuberculosis before and after DOTS (direct observed therapy short course strategy) implementation in El-Behira Governorate, Egypt

Abstract

Abstract Aim The aim of this work was to study the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in El-Behira Governorate before and after application of DOTS (direct observed therapy short course strategy) to evaluate the National Tuberculosis Control Program in El-Behira Governorate as a representative part of Egypt. Patients and methods This work was a retrospective, descriptive, analytical study of the TB situation before and after DOTS, carried out at Chest Hospital, El-Behira Governorate, Egypt, and related dispensaries. All available data on registered TB cases from January 1996 until December 2010 (15-year duration) were collected, including demographic data, diagnosis of disease, sputum smear results, previous treatment history, and treatment outcome. A descriptive analysis of the data was performed using the SPSS statistical program. Data were described in absolute numbers and percentages. Statistical significance was set at P values less than 0.05. Results The incidence of TB (n = 10 035) was higher in age groups 15–29 and 30–45 years [n = 3829 (38.2%) and n = 2827 (28.1%), respectively], and in male patients [n = 6511 (64.8%)] compared with female patients [n = 3524 (35.2%)]. Pulmonary cases (78.8%) were more than extrapulmonary cases (21.2%). There was improvement in cure rate, treatment completion rate, treatment success rate, number of retreatment cases, and default rate after DOTS application (46–61.1, 16.1–18.6, 62.1–79.7, 29.1–12.4, and 20.4–6.8%, respectively). Conclusion TB is a burden of the productive age group of 15–45 years, with a higher incidence in men than in women, and DOTS is an effective tool for controlling TB in El-Behira Governorate. The implementation of this tool has led to significant increase in treatment success and decrease in default and failure rates.