Publications - University of Oslo, Oslo, Norway

BackgroundGlobally tuberculosis TB lasts a major public health concern Using feasible strategies to estimate TB infectious periods is crucial The aim of this study was to determine the magnitude of TB infectious period and associated factors in East Gojjam zone MethodsAn institution-based prospective study was conducted among 348 pulmonary TB PTB cases between December 2017 and December 2018 TB cases were recruited from all health facilities located in Hulet Eju Enesie Enebse Sarmider Debay Tilatgen Dejen Debre-Markos town administration and Machakel districts Data were collected through an exit interview using a structured questionnaire and analyzed by IBM SPSS version25 The TB infectious period of each patient category was determined using the TB management time and sputum smear conversion time The sum of the infectious period of each patient category gave the infectious pool of the study area A multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with the magnitude of TB infectious period ResultsOf the total participated PTB cases 209 60 were male 226 65 aged 30 years 205 59 were from the rural settings and 77 22 had comorbidities The magnitude of the TB infectious pool in the study area was 78 031 infectious person-days The undiagnosed TB cases 44 895 days smear-positive 14 625 days and smear-negative 12 995 days were major contributors to the infectious pool The overall average median TB management time was 142 4 days IQR 98 238 days Similarly the average sputum smear conversion time of PTB cases new and repeat was 46 days Residence knowledge form of TB smoking alcohol history distance from the facility comorbidity history and stigma were statistically significant factors TB infectious period p-value 0 05 ConclusionsThe magnitude of the TB infectious pool is high even if it is lower than the findings of previous studies This might be an indicator of poor access to TB services service delays low community awareness impaired facility readiness and poor transportation Improving personal awareness and behavior timely management of commodities and using the TB management time in TB control are crucial to improving TB control activities

Tuberculosis infectious pool and associated factors in East Gojjam Zone, Northwest Ethiopia