PREVALENCE AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH UNDERNUTRITION AMONG ADULT TUBERCULOSIS PATIENTS IN GURAGE ZONE SOUTHERN, ETHIOPIA
Date
2022-08
Authors
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Journal ISSN
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Publisher
WOLKITE UNIVERSITY
Abstract
Background- Undernutrition and tuberculosis (TB) are interconnected in a complex
relationship. There is a high prevalence of undernutrition among adult tuberculosis patients
worldwide, specifically in developing countries including Ethiopia. Tuberculosis causes
undernutrition through raised metabolic demands, by decreasing nutritional intake and by
decreasing necessary immune functions. Therefore this study aimed to assess the prevalence and
associated factors of undernutrition among adult tuberculosis patients in Gurage zone southern,
Ethiopia.
Methods: A facility based cross-sectional study was conducted in Public Hospital and Health
centers of Gurage zone from April-May 2022. A total of 257 tuberculosis patients participated in
the study. The outcome variable, undernutrition, was determined by using Body Mass Index
(BMI). Interviewer administered structured questionnaire, anthropometric measurements and
patients‟ document review were done. Bivariable and multivariable logistic regressions were
done to identify factors associated with undernutrition. Crude odds ratios and adjusted odds
ratios with 95% confidence intervals and P-values < 0.05 were employed to declare the
significance and strength of association.
Results: A total of 257 TB patients with a mean age of 34 were enrolled in the study. The
prevalence of undernutrition was 40%, (95% CI: 34.1-45.9). The odds of undernutrition were
higher among tuberculosis patients with family size of greater than five (AOR=2.0, 95% CI: 1.0-
3.9), being a rural place of residence (AOR= 2.0, 95% CI: 1.1-3.6), not obtain dietary counseling
(AOR=3.8, 95% CI: 2.0-7.2) and not provided nutrition support and care (AOR=2.9, 95% CI:
1.5-5.4).
Conclusion: The magnitude of undernutrition was found to be high. Having an extended and
large family size, place of residence, lack of nutrition support and care, and did not receive
dietary counseling were the factors independently associated with undernutrition of tuberculosis
patients. The nutritional derangement could call for fast nutritional intervention in the
management of tuberculosis patients. Regular nutritional screening and management should be
strengthened.
Description
Keywords
prevalence,, , TB, Undernutrition,, , BMI,, public Health facilities.