Risk factors of pulmonary tuberculosis among cattle owner tuberculosis patients attending governmental health facilities in Gondar town, northwest Amhara, Ethiopia

Abstract Introduction: Tuberculosis is among infectious diseases that disproportionally affect low-income populations of the world. Intimacy of cattle and humans may play a role in the transmission of tuberculosis between man and animals. There is scarce information on risk factors of tuberculosis among cattle owners in Gondar town. Objective The aim of the study was to assess risk factors of pulmonary tuberculosis among cattle owner tuberculosis patients attending governmental health facilities in Gondar town, Northwest Amhara, Ethiopia. Methods A Case control study was conducted from March, 2019 – January, 2020. Cattle owners with active pulmonary tuberculosis attending governmental health facilities and their neighbors were recruited as study participants. The control groups were selected randomly using lottery method. Using Epi InfoTM 7.0.8.3 version software a total of 92 study participants (31 cases and 61 controls) were recruited considering proportion of bovine TB among the controls (1.9%) and among cases (20%), 5% significance level, power of 80% and a case to control ratio of 1:2.Data were collected using interviewer administered structured questionnaire and cattle tuberculin skin testing. Logistic regression analysis was conducted using STATA 15 statistical software to determine strength of association between pulmonary tuberculosis and the predictors. Results The mean ± SD age of study participants was 40.8 ± 13.4 years. Nearly two-thirds (60.9%) of the study participants were males. Living in a household with family members greater than four (AOR = 6.83; 95% CI: 1.48, 31.52), having a contact history with a TB patient (AOR = 7.80; 95% CI: 1.51, 40.36), sharing a house with cattle (AOR = 8.11; 95% CI: 1.23, 53.58) and raw milk consumption (AOR = 9.97; 95% CI: 1.67, 59.35) were the risk factors for the occurrence of tuberculosis. Conclusion The study revealed that family size, contact history, sharing house with cattle, and habit of raw milk consumption were risk factors of tuberculosis. Therefore, providing well organized health education to address these risk factors and intensifying contact tracing is vital to prevent and control tuberculosis in the study area.