Demographic and living conditions of tuberculosis patients receiving directly observed therapy short course(DOTS) in Calabar, Nigeria

Abstract

Understanding the role of poverty in the continued epidemic of TB in developing countries will provide useful information for the improvement of TB control activities in these areas. A survey of the living conditions of 274 TB patients registered for DOTS at the National Tuberculosis Control Program Centre of the Lawrence Henshaw Memorial hospital Calabar and the Endemic Disease Clinic of the University of Calabar Teaching Hospital, Calabar was conducted to verify the view that poverty influences the incidence and outcome of TB. Using a structured pre-tested self- or interview- administered questionnaire, data were collected from a sample of 274 subjects: males (162/59%) and females (112/41%) within the economically viable age of 15-55 years. Results showed that the number of TB patients in the study decreased with increasing number of children of .3 in the households of subjects. The average income of the 244 (89%) income earners was N6,045.00 ($46.50) a month. Of this number, 170 (70%) earned less than N5,000 ($37.00) monthly. Thirty (11%) had no reliable means of income. Unemployed persons and students constituted the highest percentage of the subjects (18% and 17% respectively). A low socio-economic status and poor housing conditions typified by overcrowding and poor ventilation characterized the TB patients in this study. TB control programs anchored by government and non-governmental agencies need to address poverty reduction as part of their intervention strategies.