Uptake of Drug Susceptibility Testing and factors associated among TB Patients in Bungoma County, 2018-2022

BACKGROUND Drug Susceptibility Tests play an important role in developing strategies to identify and treat patients at high risk of Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis. Kenya is among countries with a high burden for Tuberculosis, and Multidrug-resistant/Rifampicin Resistant Tuberculosis. Early diagnosis and detection of drug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis is a priority to identify patients not responding to treatment and avoid transmission of resistant strain. This study aimed to determine the uptake of the Drug Susceptibility Test and associated factors among tuberculosis patients in Bungoma County from 2018 to 2022 METHODOLOGY Descriptive analysis was done, and patients’ characteristics were summarized in tables. Logistic regression was used to calculate the odds ratio at a 95% confidence interval (CI) and to check the association between drug susceptibility uptake and varied patient characteristics. P value ≤ 0.05 was considered statistically significant. RESULTS A total of 3204(42%), accessed a DST. Patients 25-44 years of age were 3262(37%). Females were more likely to have a DST with OR 1.03 (p<0.0123; 95% (1.04, 1.35). A patient being HIV negative was more likely to access a DST with OR 1.1 (p<0.0001; 95% (1.63, 2.15). CONCLUSION Access to a DST test among TB patients was sub-optimal. Most patients were found in the age group 25-44 years. Being a female, you were more likely to access a DST, and HIV-positive patients were unlikely to receive a DST test.