Risk factors associated with tuberculosis in adults: a case control study at Ndola Central Hospital, Zambia

Abstract

Background:Tuberculosis (TB) is an air born condition that affects many systems of the human body, usually the lungs first. TB is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality in Zambia. The objective of the study was to determine risk factors associated with TB. Method: A case-control study was performed among 81 TB patients at Ndola Central Hospital (NCH) and 79 controls.All participants completed a questionnaire regarding sociodemographic and lifestyle variables.Chi-square test was used to determine significant associations anda result yielding a p value of less than 5% was considered statistically significant. Independent factors associated with the outcome were established using a multivariate logistic regression. Adjusted odds ratios(AOR) and their 95% confidenceintervals (CI) are reported.Results: Independent risk factors which were significantly associated with TB were marital status (AOR=0.51; 95% CI[0.21,0.91]),HIV (AOR=2.09; 95% CI[1.34,3.27]),alcohol(AOR=1.71; 95% CI [1.11, 2.63]), smoking (AOR=2.33;95% [1.23, 4.44]), family history (AOR=1.53;95% CI [1.02, 2.29]) and working in mines (AOR=2.64;95%CI [1.29,5.39]). Conclusion: Interventions such as early HIV counselling, testing and initiation of antiretroviral therapy, as well as providing health education on life style risk factors that are associated with TB may prevent TB disease.