Title: Prevalence of tuberculosis in Calabar, Nigeria: A case study of patients attending the outpatients Department of Dr. Lawrence Henshaw Memorial Hospital, Calabar
Abstract:Background: Tuberculosis (TB), though a curable infectious disease, remains one of the leading causes of death in adults. It is also a major public health concern in Nigeria. This study was aimed to d...Background: Tuberculosis (TB), though a curable infectious disease, remains one of the leading causes of death in adults. It is also a major public health concern in Nigeria. This study was aimed to determine the prevalence rate of tuberculosis among patients attending the out-patient Department of Dr. Lawrence Henshaw Memorial Hospital Calabar. Materials and Methods: A retrospective study was carried out consisting of all documented cases of tuberculosis from January 2005 to April 2015. Results: Out of 20185 patients tested, a total of 5,004 cases of tuberculosis was recorded within the period of this study with a prevalence rate of 24.8%. The prevalence for each year during this study were as follows: 2005 (37.5%), 2006 (30.9%), 2007 (26.2%), 2008 (23.1%), 2009 (23.0%), 2010 (20.5%), 2011 (16.6%), 2012 (20.5%), 2013 (22.9%), 2014 (21.8%) and 2015 (44.6%). HIV co-infection was more prevalence in males than females, while majority of the disease site was pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB). The highest mortality was recorded in 2012 (18.2%). Within the ethnic groups assessed, the prevalence was higher among the Efiks. Conclusion: The prevalence of TB/ HIV co-infection and subsequent mortality within the years under study is traumatizing and thus requires prompt measures in combating the situation.Read More