TREATMENT OUTCOMES AND ASSOCIATED RISK FACTORS AMONG TUBERCULOSIS CASES AT Dr. BOGALECH GEBRE MEMORIAL HOSPITAL, DURAME, CENTRAL ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health challenge in Ethiopia. Evaluating treatment outcomes and identifying associated risk factors is critical to improving TB control efforts. This study aimed to assess treatment outcomes and associated demographic, clinical, and health system-related factors among TB patients at Dr. Bogalech Gebre Memorial Hospital in Durame, Central Ethiopia. A retrospective cohort study was conducted using patient records from 2012 to 2021. Logistic regression analysis was employed to examine associations between treatment outcomes and variables such as patient category (new vs. relapse), TB type (smear-positive pulmonary, smear-negative pulmonary, extrapulmonary), HIV status, and year of registration. Treatment outcomes were classified as successful (cured or completed) or unsuccessful (failure, lost to follow-up, or death). The overall treatment success rate was (88.1%). New TB patients had significantly higher odds of successful treatment compared to relapse cases (OR = 2.34, p < 0.001). Pulmonary TB cases were more likely to have successful outcomes than extrapulmonary cases (OR = 3.16, p < 0.001). Conversely, patients with HIV co-infection had lower odds of treatment success (OR = 0.47, p = 0.012). A significant improvement in treatment outcomes was observed over the 10-year period (OR = 1.65, p = 0.002). New and pulmonary TB cases, as well as HIV-negative patients, had better treatment outcomes, while relapse and HIV-positive cases showed poorer outcomes. The increasing trend in treatment success over time suggests improvements in TB diagnosis and care. Strengthening targeted interventions for high-risk groups and enhancing adherence support is recommended