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Hilla University College Journal For Medical Science

Document Type

>Short Communication

Keywords

Socio-demographic issues, Medical issues, Tuberculosis, Baghdad city, Iraq

Abstract

Objective: The present study aimed at investigating socio-demographic issues of gender, living place, marital status, education and type of Tuberculosis, and medical issues, such as new smear positive cases, causes, treatment and new pulmonary positive cases in Baghdad City, Iraq for 2012-2016.

Methodology: A descriptive “retrospective” design was employed throughout the present study from the period of November 12th 2017 to February 13th 2018 in order to investigate socio-demographic and medical issues related to Tuberculosis. A convenient sample of (11680) registered patients with tuberculosis in Baghdad, Iraq for the period of 2012-2016. These patients were males and females and they were one year to over than 65 year of age. An instrument was constructed for the purpose of the study. It is comprised of items that focused on patients’ socio-demographic characteristics of age, gender and type of Tuberculosis (Part I) and items related to tuberculosis, such as causes of Tuberculosis, new smear positive cases, incidence rate of new pulmonary positive Tuberculosis and treatment of drug resistance cases (Part II). A pilot study was conducted for the determination of the study instrument’s content validity, internal consistency reliability and adequacy. The study was carried out for the period of December 10th to 20th 2017. Content validity of the instrument was determined through panel of (15) experts. They were presented with copy of the study instrument and asked to review it and provide comments for its modification to be more appropriate measure of the study. They had reviewed the instrument and presented their comments with an agreement that the instrument is content valid. Internal consistency reliability was determined for the study instrument through the use of split-half technique and measurement of Cronbach alpha correlation coefficient. The result indicated that Cronbach alpha correlation coefficient was r=0.85 which adequately reliable measure for the problem underlying the present study. Data were collected from the health records at the National Tuberculosis Center, State TB center, and district TB center for the period of 2012 to 2016 with the use of the study instrument. Data were analyzed through the application of descriptive statistical data analysis approach of frequency, percent, incidence rate and ratio.

Results: The study indicated that female patients were slightly larger than male ones. Patients living in the urban area were accounted for the most (91.85%). 41.92%, 18.53%, 31.05% and 8.50% of the patients were married, single, divorced and patients with deceased spouses, and there was a significant difference among them pairwise from this point of view; i.e., the number of married people is more than single, more than divorced and more than a patient with a dead spouse. the literacy level of TB patients is significantly different, with 59.77% of illiterate patients, 2.27% of elementary education, 18.30% of secondary education, 19.04% of secondary education and diploma and 0.61% university degree. Most of the patients had experienced Extra-pulmonary Tuberculosis (52.36%). The study revealed that most of the new smear positive cases are accounted for the age group of (15-24) year old during the years of 2012-2016. Causes of Tuberculosis in the rural area were accounted for poverty (39.95%), smoking (22.39%), untreated cases (12.4%), alcoholism (11.32%), malnutrition (10.30%) and overcrowded (3.57%) respectively, and accounted for alcoholism (27.77%), overcrowded (27.16%), malnutrition (24.69%), smoking (11.93%), poverty (7.62%) and untreated cases of Tuberculosis (0.80%) respectively in the urban area. So, poverty and smoking are considered the most effective causes for patients in the rural area. In contrast, alcoholism, overcrowded and malnutrition are considered as the most effective causes for patients in the urban area. Success rate was (69%) in 2014, (61%) in 2013 and (51%) in 2012 respectively. Such rate can present evidence that patients in 2014 have benefited out of the program more than others. age specific incidence numbers, percentage and incidence rate by gender. The percentage and the numbers in age group 15-24 years old was the highest and declined thereafter while age was increasing for both male and female. But the incidence cases in age group 0-14 in both male and female were almost the same. Though the incidence rate of both male and female cases the same in the age group 0-14 years old and difference was much higher as age groups increased from 15-24, 25-34, 35-44, and the highest was found among the age group 55-64 years old while the rapid decreasing was found in the age group 65 + years old.

Conclusion: The study concluded that the gender ratio was accounted for the most (2.14:1) in the year of 2015. The urban zone the incidence rate was greater than that of the rural zone. Most of the new smear positive cases were accounted for the age group of (15-24) year old during the years of 2012-2016. The urban zone’s incidence rate was greater than that of the rural zone. Poverty and smoking were considered the most effective causes for patients in the rural area. In contrast, alcoholism, overcrowded and malnutrition were considered as the most effective causes for patients in the urban area. Patients in 2014 had benefited out of the Tuberculosis Program more than others based on the success rate. The incidence rate of both male and female cases the same in the age group of (0-14) years old and difference was much higher as age groups increased from (15-24), (25-34), (35-44), and the highest was found among the age group (55-64) years old while the rapid decreasing was found in the age group 65 + years old.

Recommendations: The study recommended that The study recommended that patients who were young males and females, married, illiterates and urban area residents can be provided with all means of treatment and preventive measures. The Ministry of Health and Environment in Iraq can present appropriate and effective attention to people who were at risk of Tuberculosis. Further research with a large sample size and wide range of variables can be conducted.

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