Retrospective Assessment of the Trend of Tuberculosis (TB) at Lumbini Provincial Hospital During 2015 to 2020 along with Knowledge Attitude and Practice among TB Patients

Abstract

Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious bacterial disease infecting the lungs caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The morbidity and mortality due to TB is decreasing in trend in most of the countries. To assess the disease trend particularly in Lumbini province as well as people's current perception of the disease, a retrospective analysis of the disease along with the Knowledge, attitude and practices (KAP) survey was carried out at Lumbini Provincial Hospital (LPH). Five years of data analysis of the Lumbini Provincial Hospital from 2015 AD indicated that the disease condition was in a steady state with slight increase (9.5%) in 2016/17. Suspected people seeking a diagnosis of TB in the hospital seems continuously increased from 2015 to 2020. TB prevalence for the last 5 years indicated 7.25% using AFB smear microscopy and 36.47% by Xpert MTB/RIF method. Males were found highly infected compared to female and mostly infected age group were 15-30 years. Similarly based on caste group Madeshi and Janjati people were found highly infected compared to others. Questionnaire survey results indicated that awareness of the disease is high but the knowledge of symptoms and route of the disease transmission is unsatisfactory. For preventive practices of the disease that people followed seems poor. Hence, the disease condition is still worsening the life of the people in the province. To reduce the disease burden, community-focused awareness and preventive program are recommended.