Pulmonary Tuberculosis in A General Hospital in Ijebu-Ode City: Associated Socio-Demographic Factors and Implications for Attainment of Millennium Development Goals in South-West Nigeria

The study was set up to ascertain the socio-demographic factors associated with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) and Human Immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infections in Ijebu Ode city after a decade-long availability of anti-retroviral drugs and free TB treatment. The study was hospital based prevalence in nature. The study was carried out at General hospital, Ijebu-Ode in Ogun state between June and December 2009. Patients attending General hospital Ijebu-Ode with signs and symptoms of PTB and HIV were consecutively recruited into the study. Sputum samples were collected and processed using standard laboratory procedures for TB detection; venous blood samples were collected and sera tested for HIV infection using Enzyme linked immunosorbent assey (ELISA). Questionnaires were administered to obtain relevant sociodemographic information such as age, gender, occupation, educational levels and housing standards. The incidence of PTB infection in Ijebu-Ode city was found to be 21.1% while that of HIV among the studied population was 24.4%. Increasing educational levels had a positive impact on the reduction of PTB cases among the respondents while occupations such as farming, petty trading, artisans, military/paramilitary and joblessness contributed to the spread of PTB in the community as well as HIV infections. PTB is still a major health problem in Ijebu-Ode city along with HIV infections. Pre-hospital institutions should be revived and properly positioned, and recruitment and deployment of physician assistants and other para-medics vigorously pursued to enhance prompt home detection, treatment and follow up.