Smear Positivity and Associated Risk Factors among Pulmonary Tuberculosis Suspects at Nigist Eleni Mohammed Memorial Hospital, Hossana, South Ethiopia

Background: Tuberculosis remains to be a major public health problem among the under developed world due to delay in detection and treatment of patients with active TB. In Ethiopia, case detection rate remains low compared with WHO target. Prolonged delay of tuberculosis case detection may lead to disease that is more advanced, high mortality, and continual transmission in the community. Therefore, we aimed to assess the prevalence of smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis and its associated factors among pulmonary tuberculosis suspects at Nigist Eleni Mohammed memorial Hospital, Hossana, South Ethiopia. Method and Materials: A hospital based cross sectional study was conducted at Nigist Eleni Mohammed Memorial Hospital, South Ethiopia from May to June 2013. 186 consecutive pulmonary tuberculosis suspects were included in the study from the hospital outpatient department. Data on demographic and other risk factors were collected using semi-structured questionnaire. Three sputum specimen samples were collected and processed using the standard microbiological method to make sure participants were smear positive. The data were entered into and analyzed using SPSS Version-16 software. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis. Result: Of the 186 suspected pulmonary tuberculosis participants, smear positive acid fast bacilli were detected in 18 (9.7%) and 20 (10.8%) by direct and bleach concentrated Zeihl Neelson staining technique respectively. Compared to age group of 15 - 30 there was lower risk of pulmonary tuberculosis for those who were in age group of ≥45 years, [AOR = 0.04, 95% CI: (0.01, 0.36)]. Being male [AOR = 6.56, 95% CI: (1.84, 23.34)], cough duration ≥ 2 weeks [AOR = 10.20, 95% CI: (1.16, 89.48)] and contact with known TB patient at home, [AOR = 5.81 (1.57, 22.31)] were found to have strong association with smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis. Conclusion and recommendation: Higher proportion of smear positivity was found by bleach concentrated technique than direct Zeihl Neelson staining technique. However, case detection rate remains low. Prevention and control of tuberculosis should focus on young age groups between 15 - 30 years. Sustainable health education using various Information Education Communication (IEC) methods including local mass media, early case finding and treatment are recommended to reduce the spread of the disease.