Tuberculosis and gender parity in a TB Referral Centre, South –South Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Epidemiological information shows that there are differences between men and women in prevalence of TB infection, rate of progression from infection to disease, HIV and TB co-infection rate, and mortality due to pulmonary tuberculosis. Study of gender differences in prevalence and treatment outcome of patients will assist in targeting those at higher risk and ensure successful TB control planning. Aim: This study is aimed at determining gender differences in the prevalence of clinical disease, HIV and TB co-infection rate and treatment outcome amongst TB patients that attended this referral hospital between January 2003 to December 2012. Methodology: A retrospective survey was carried out on the records of all Acid Fast Bacilli (AFB) smear positive Pulmonary Tuberculosis patients who attended this hospital during the period under review. Epidemiological information was collected retrospectively from the tuberculosis laboratory and treatment registers to explore gender disparity in the prevalence of clinical disease, HIV and TB co-infection rate and treatment outcome among the TB patients. Results: A total number of 1612 HIV negative male TB patients attended the DOTS centre of this hospital as against 1013 females during the study period. Male had a higher prevalence ,the male: female ratio was 1.59. There were a total number of 156 HIV - TB co-infected female subjects constituting 9.7% of the female TB patients while 106 males were HIV-TB co-infected constituting 4.7% of the male patients. The difference was statistically significantly (P<0.00). Conclusion: Our findings bring into sharp focus the gender disparity in the TB prevalence and HIV-TB co-infection among the study subjects. TB control programme should routinely review and monitor programme reports and take appropriate measures to improve the current TB control policies and programme.