Tuberculosis Treatment Outcomes and Determinants of Treatment Default in a Tertiary Health Facility in Obio/Akpor Local Government Area, Rivers State

Background: The study aimed to assess tuberculosis treatment outcomes, and the factors associated with treatment default among patients who received TB treatment at the Directly Observed Treatment Short Course (DOTS) clinic of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital Materials and Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used to retrospectively review tuberculosis cases at the DOTS Clinic from January 1, 2019, to December 17, 2023. The research examined 342 files/records. Data was analysed using SPSS version 27. Pearson's Chi-square test was used to determine the association between the outcome and independent variables at P ≤ 0.05 statistical significance level. Result: The result shows that mean age of 31.5±17.9, 89 (26.0%) of the cases seen were less than 20 years old, 187 (54.7%) were males, and 213 (62.3%) were singles. Fifty-three (15.5%) were cured, 103 (30.1%) of the respondents completed treatment, 81(23.7%) defaulted, 69 (20.2%) lost to follow-up, 3 (0.9%) were treatment failures and 14 (4.15%) died. The overall treatment success rate was 156 (45.6%), 35 (38.8%) in 2019 and 51 (57.9%) in 2023. Sputum positivity (χ2 = 31.34; p < 0.001) and HIV status (χ2 = 11.75; p < 0.007) were significantly associated with treatment success rate, only sputum positivity (χ2 = 7.726; p < 0.038) was associated with default P≤0.05. Conclusion: The treatment success rate was lower than the World Health Organisation’s cut-off mark (85.0%). The default rate was also high. Strategies should be developed to enhance optimum TB treatment outcomes in Rivers State, Nigeria.