PREVALENCE AND FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH UNDERNUTRITION AMONG ADULT TUBERCULOSIS PATIENTS IN GURAGE ZONE SOUTHERN, ETHIOPIA

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.