Ten years tuberculosis trend in Gambella Regional Hospital, South Western Ethiopia

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a chronic infectious disease mainly caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTBC). It is one of the major health problems in Ethiopia, across the nation. According to World Health Organization 2009 report the status of TB in Gambella Region was the highest from all the Ethiopian Regions, with the notification rate of (new and relapse) 261-421/100, 000. We, therefore, carried out this study to investigate the trend of TB in Gambella Regional Hospital Southwest Ethiopia. Methods: The study was conducted at the Gambella Regional Hospital, South Western Ethiopia. Retrospectively the medical records of all TB patients registered from 1st January 2003 to 14th November 2012 were assessed. Results: The results of the study revealed that there were 4300 TB cases registered in the ten years duration in Gambella Regional Hospital. Males consist the highest percentage 2430 (56.51%). Out of 4300 TB cases registered 1045 (24.30%) had Extra pulmonary TB (EPTB) and 3255 (75.70%) suffered from pulmonary TB (PTB) (χ2=31. 14; p<0.001). From 3255 registered PTB cases, smear positive PTB accounted for 1368 (31.81%) of the cases. The age groups 15-44took the highest percentage among the patients 2918 (67.86%). Only 1444 patients were knew their HIV status out of these 423 (29.29%) were HIV positives. The trend in TB registered cases of all forms of TB was gradually declining in the ten years. Conclusion: The retrospective study showed that TB problem in the study area was not at the level to be undermined. Hence, TB control program should give attention to the control of TB in Gambella Region.