The spatial distribution of pulmonary tuberculosis in Kabanjahe District, Karo regency, Indonesia

Abstract

BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (Tb) is an infectious disease and global concern today. AIM: This study aims to map the incidence of pulmonary Tb risk factors in Kabanjahe District, Karo Regency. METHODS: This research is an ecological study with a case–control study design. This research was conducted in Kabanjahe District in January–October 2020. All people checked and declared to have Tb based on clinical symptoms to be the population in this study. The sample size was calculated with a minimum sample size of 58 for the case group and 58 for the control group with a ratio of 1:1. The distribution pattern of pulmonary Tb and environmental risk factors with the incidence of Tb was carried out using a Geographic Information System to determine the distribution of cases. Spatial analysis used average nearest neighbor, overlay, and buffer followed with logistic regression as multivariate statistical analysis. RESULTS: The distribution pattern of pulmonary Tb in Kabanjahe District tends to group (clusters). GeoDa software found the relationship between population density and Tb incidence in Kabanjahe District with p = 0.04. There is a relationship between income, ventilation, floor conditions, humidity, and lighting with the incidence of Tb. Humidity is the most dominant variable associated with the incidence of Tb. CONCLUSION: The incidence of Tb cases in Kabanjahe District is dominantly influenced by the humidity factor of the house which is increasingly at risk due to poor ventilation, unstable room temperature, and bad circulation.