Abstract

Background: India has highest number of tuberculosis (TB) cases in terms of absolute number of cases that occur each year. TB is a social disease and described barometer of social welfare. Every year one-fourth of the global incident TB cases occur in India.
Objective: This study is done to know various social and demographic factors and its impact on treatment outcome of Category I TB patients in an urban area of Jamnagar.
Materials and Methods: A longitudinal study was carried out enrolling all Category I TB patients under directly observed treatment, short-course treatment during the period from July 2014 to December 2014 (2-quarter), in the urban area of Jamnagar. After necessary exclusion total 199 patients were visited personally, interviewed and followed up to completion of treatment. At the end of completion of treatment, final outcome was noted.
Results: Out of total 199 patients, the patients between 16 and 45 years age group were 59.30%, male was 69.35%, literates was 78.39%, and laborers were 36.18%; overall treatment success was 81.91%. Among total 118 new sputum positive patients, success rate was 78.81%. And relationship between type of TB and treatment outcome was found statistically significant (P = 0.008). Among total 68 patients in age group of more than 45 years success rate was 72.06%. And relationship between age and treatment outcome was found statistically significant (P = 0.016). Patients belong to lower class (Class IV and V) were 48.24% and relationship between social class and treatment outcome was found statistically significant (P = 0.008). Out of 72 (36.18%) laborer patients, successful treatment outcome was found in 69.44% of patients. Relationship between occupation and treatment outcome was found statistically significant (P = 0.008). Relationship with overcrowding and ventilation condition with successful treatment outcome was also found statistically significant (P = 0.01 and P = 0.02, respectively).
Conclusions: The findings of this study suggest that mostly affected people were lower socioeconomic class, with higher unsuccessful treatment outcome. Variable such as occupation, overcrowding, and poor ventilation also associated with unsuccessful treatment outcome. Improvement in quality of life is necessary for better outcome. Future program or research should focus on improvement of quality of life by addressing such social and demographic issues for better outcome.