SOCIAL ECONOMIC FACTORS THAT INFLUENCE TUBERCULOSIS TREATMENT OUTCOME IN MOMBASA COUNTY

Abstract

Purpose: TB is a leading cause of disease and death with over 2 billion people globally infected. It’s the seventh cause of death worldwide and second only to HIV/AIDS among infectious diseases. The study sought to determine factors that are associated with TB client’s treatment outcomes in Mombasa County, Coast region, Kenya.

Methods: A quantitative, cross-sectional study design was used. Data collected using semi-structured questionnaire administered by sub county TB and leprosy coordinators and research assistants. Systematic random sampling technique was used to sample 292 TB clients with treatment outcomes. A focused group discussion and key informant interviews were also conducted and thematic analysis done. All the data was entered into spread sheet and later analyzed using SPSS software to describe and identify significant correlations between different variables and for unstructured questions, thematic analysis was done. Results were presented in form of tables.

Results: The result of this study indicated a positive relationship between independent variables (Patient related factors) and dependent variable (TB Outcome). A logistic regression model for the patient or life style factors was fitted which demonstrated predictive power of the independent variables of up to 63.7% (R²=63.7%). This result shows that among the patient factors that influence TB treatment outcome, cigarette smoking, drinking alcohol, provision of health education, presence of chronic illness, and access to psychological support and distance to treatment center were significant.

Unique Contribution to Theory, Practice and Policy: The study gave an impetus to propose categorical efforts in addressing patient related factors such as enhancing further awareness on treatment adherence and imposition of penalties to careless treatment defaulters.