Abstract

This study was designed to identify risk factors associated with defaulting during TB treatment and indicate specific adjustments to be made. This study is a retrospective, cohort study. Information on all TB patients attending clinic for treatment from 1st April 2004 to 30th June 2007 was collected using a data collection form. A total sample of 938 patients was reviewed. The overall default rate among the TB patients was 14.4% and was about half (44.3%) of the entire negative outcome. 743 (79.2%) of cases were cured or completed treatment and 9 (1.0%) of cases were transferred out. Factors associated with default were return after default (p = 0.000), presentation with extra-pulmonary TB (p = 0.000) and defaulting in the first two months of treatment (p = 0.00). There was no statistically significant difference in the rate of default between HIV positive and HIV negative TB patients (22.8% vs 10.5%, X2 = 0.15, p = 0.699) and distance of domicile from PHC centres (p = 0.91). This study suggest that National TB control programmes should pay a closer attention to the issue of home visit and monitoring especially among  patients with smear-negative PTB or EPTB and those returning after default in African population.

Keywords: Tuberculosis,default rate,primary health care,directly observed theraphy.