“Prevalence of Pulmonary Tuberculosis in Jutpani V.D.C. Chitwan, Nepal”

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the major public health problems in the developing countries like Nepal. With the objective to determine the situation of TB in Jutpani VDC, the present study was carried out from the month of July 2012 to December 2012. During the study period, a total of 600 sputum samples from 200 TB suspected patients, 225 sputum samples from 75 family members of TB patient currently under DOTS and 117 sputum samples from 39 DOTS completed TB patients were collected and examined in the Laboratory of Jutpani Primary Health Center (PHC). Diagnosis was made after staining the sputum smear by Z-N staining method and examined under light microscope. A questionnaire survey of 57 PTB patients was done to access their knowledge, attitude and preventive practice for TB. Out of 200 TB suspected patients, 18 (9%) were found to be AFB positive. Among patients diagnosed as having Pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB), higher number (55.56%) of males than females (44.44%) were found which was found to be statistically insignificant (2cal. = 0.4524, P<0.01). Highest prevalence of TB infection (36.89%) was found to be in the age group of 30-40 year. All family members (75) screening of the 16 PTB patients currently undergoing DOTS treatment were found sputum negative. Similarly, screening of DOTS completed PTB patients (39) of Jutpani VDC were also found to be negative. Prevalence of TB was found to be highest in Jutpani VDC in comparison to other VDC under Jutpani PHC. Majority of the patients had acceptable attitudes but the knowledge regarding cause, transmission, prevention of the tuberculosis was not adequate. So there is still a need to strengthen the knowledge of TB through mass media to public level.