Appraisal of the Prevalence of Tuberculosis and Associated Risk Factors Among Patients Attending Healthcare Facilities in Bauchi North, Bauchi State, Nigeria

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is a highly contagious airborne disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis, transmitted through inhalation of infected droplets. It is more prevalent among individuals with compromised immune systems. Efforts to detect and treat TB cases remained insufficient in Bauchi North. This study assessed the prevalence and risk factors of TB among patients attending healthcare facilities in Bauchi north.  A total of 230 sputum samples were collected from patients exhibiting clinical signs and symptoms of TB and analyzed using the Ziehl-Neelsen (ZN) staining method. A smear of the specimen was prepared on a clean glass slide. The slide was flooded with carbol fuchsin solution, heated for about 5 minutes and allowed to cool for 2 minutes. The slide was then rinsed, flooded with acid-alcohol and kept for 2 minutes, and rinsed with water. The slide was then flooded with methylene blue for 2 minutes. The slide was then rinsed, air-dried, and examined under the oil immersion objective 100x magnification. In addition, structured questionnaires were administered to gather demographic and risk factor data. The study found an overall TB hospital based prevalence of 49.17%. Gender-based prevalence was slightly higher among females (26.67%) than males (22.50%). Age-wise, the lowest prevalence was observed among children aged 0–9 years (0.83%), while adults aged 25–64 years had the highest prevalence (25.42%). Socioeconomic and behavioral factors significantly influenced TB prevalence. Patients from low-income groups had higher prevalence (37.92%), compared to others. Contact with infected individuals (41.25%) and residence in rural areas (41.25%) were associated with higher prevalence rates. The study concluded that age, socioeconomic status, residence, and contact with infected individuals are significant risk factors for TB. These findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions, especially in vulnerable populations, to curb TB transmission in Northern Bauchi State, Nigeria.