Factors influencing Prevalence of MDR-TB among TB patients admitted to TB ward at St. Kizito hospital maternity, Karamoja sub region

The increasing incidence of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) poses a significant threat to global TB eradication efforts. The rapid spread of MDR-TB has garnered global concern. This study aimed to identify factors contributing to the high prevalence of MDR-TB among TB patients at St. Kizito hospital maternity, located in the Napak District of the Karamoja sub-region. A hospital-based descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from August 2022 to March 2023, involving tuberculosis patients receiving care and health workers at St. Kizito Hospital maternity. Data were collected using interviewer-administered questionnaires. A sample size of 55 respondents was targeted. Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 17. The prevalence and associated factors of MDR-TB were computed using bivariate and multivariate statistical analyses. Variables with p-values <0.05 were considered statistically significant at the multivariate level. Informed consent was obtained prior to enrollment, participation was voluntary, and privacy and confidentiality were maintained throughout the study. A total of 50 participants completed the study, yielding a response rate of 90.9%. The majority of respondents were male (35, 70%) and aged between 50–56 years (40, 80%). The prevalence of MDR-TB was 14% (7 patients). Among the 7 MDR-TB cases, 4 patients (57.1%) had HIV comorbidity, 1 (14.3%) had hepatitis B, 1 (14.3%) had cancer, and 1 (14.3%) had asthma. Multivariate analysis at a 95% confidence interval revealed significant associations with MDR-TB. Factors included age below 50 years (aOR = 14.16, p-value = 0.001), positive HIV status (aOR = 4.39, p-value = 0.034), a history of previous TB treatment (aOR = 7.16, p-value = 0.001), lack of formal education (aOR = 2.51, p-value = 0.017), and experiencing TB symptoms for over one year. The study also found that the facility had a well-organized laboratory network for MDR-TB case detection. However, challenges such as inadequate Drug Susceptibility Testing (DST), inconsistent infection prevention and control measures, delays in seeking medical treatment, and insufficient financing of MDR-TB-related activities were highlighted. Keywords: Multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB), Prevalence and risk factors, HIV comorbidity, Drug Susceptibility Testing (DST), Karamoja sub-region