Undernutrition among Tuberculosis Patients on Directly Observed Short-Course Therapy: An Epidemiological Study from Northern Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) makes undernutrition worse and undernutrition weakens immunity, thereby increasing the likelihood that latent TB will develop into active disease. This may result due to illness that impairs nutrient intake and metabolism or results from inadequate intake of macronutrients, micronutrients, or both. This study aimed to assess undernutrition and associated factors among adult patients on directly observed therapy - short course (DOTS) for TB in public-health facilities of the central and northwestern zones of Tigray, Ethiopia. Methods: A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 406 adult TB patients from June 15 to July 15, 2019. Data were collected using an interviewer-administ ered pretested structured questionnaire, entered into EpiData version 3.1, and exported to SPSS 20 for analysis. Abinary logistic regression model was fitted to assess factors associated with undernutrition. Statistical significance was declared at P < 0.05. Results: The prevalence of undernutrition was 45.6%, (95% CI 40.76%-50.44%), with 24.4% mild, 11.3% moderate, and 9.9% severe undernutrition. Age >40 years (AOR 2.13, 95% CI 1.02-4.55), pulmonary TB (AOR 3.36, 95% CI 1.877-6.012), pulmonary-negative TB -(AOR 1.82, 95% CI 1.055-3.126), eating problems (AOR 2.71, 95% CI 1.443, 5.105), and income 40 years, pulmonary-positive and pulmonary-negative TB, eating problems, and income < ETB800, and ETB800-1,500 were predictors of undernutrition. Therefore, mainstream nutrition assessment in health programs and early detection and treatment are needed for TB cases to improve their nutritional status.