Prevalence of Tuberculosis Cases in Imo State...

Prevalence of Tuberculosis Cases in Imo State from 2013- 2017 Based On Some Demographic Variables

Author Name : Prof. J. O. Okafor, Ibe I. J., Nnaemezie N. O.

ABSTRACT

This study was therefore designed to determine the prevalence of tuberculosis cases in Imo from  State 2013 – 2017 based on some demographic variables. Method: Three research questions and three hypotheses were postulated for the study. The data for the study were collected from the folders of 2620 tuberculosis patients who attended health facilities in the selected health facilities from 2013 – 2017. Hypotheses stated were tested using the chi-square statistics at 0.05 level of significance. Results: The results among others showed that the highest prevalence of tuberculosis of 26.65 percent was in 2013 and the lowest of 14.96 percent in 2017. Patients aged 15 – 40 years were highly infected (50.88%) followed by tuberculosis patients of age group 41 -66years (37.79%) and 11.34 percent of tuberculosis patients age 67 years and above were the least infected. Male patients suffering from tuberculosis recorded the highest prevalence of 61.03 percent followed by females with 38. 97percent. There was a significance difference in the prevalence of tuberculosis cases in Imo State  from 2013 -2017 based on some demographic variables of ages, gender, from 2013 – 2017. Conclusion: Based on the findings, the following recommendations among others were made namely: government should sponsor and organize periodic medical check-up for public servants, students and rural dwellers for early detection of tuberculosis also strategize ways to implement tuberculosis prevention  programmes in the rural areas of Imo State.      

Keywords: Prevalence, Tuberculosis, Demographic Variables