The Epidemiology of Tuberculosis among Internal Displaced Persons in EL-salam Camp, South Darfur State - Sudan 2022.

Abstract Background: Sudan is a large country. It has a diverse economy, a large population, and a history of civil wars and conflicts. The poverty rate is high. With an estimated 50,000 TB incident cases, in the year 2009. Objectives: To study the epidemiology of TB, risk factors associated with the spread of the disease, and to evaluate the effectiveness of TB program interventions in EL-salam IDP camp in South Darfur state in Sudan from 2019 to 2022. Methodology: A cross-sectional, descriptive, community-based study with a cluster sample was used; pre and post-intervention study. There were 401 households chosen in the 1st study in which a survey was conducted at the start of the study as a baseline to measure tuberculosis epidemiology and the implementation of tuberculosis program interventions; After 6 months, the same study was repeated for case epidemiology (prevalence), in the sample were 398 households, Interventions include case detection and treatment. Community mobilization and education about tuberculosis through various means of community awareness, free diagnosis, and treatment. The questionnaire was designed and the mobile app kobo-toolbox was used to collect data before and after the intervention. SPSS was used to analyze the data. Result: In the first study, the prevalence of suspected TB cases was 52.9%(9/17 )of the suspected tuberculosis cases were sent for testing, 9 cases were positive in the camp, and the overall prevalence of positive tuberculosis in the camp was 2.2 % (9/401). In the first study, the prevalence of tuberculosis among people aged 30–39 years was 1.3% (5/401), and it was highest among females at 1.8% (7/401) and lower among males at 0.50% (2/401). Tuberculosis is prevalent among the uneducated at 1.00% (4/401). The prevalence of tuberculosis is higher among the increased number of people living in a room, with a statistically significant p-value of 0.000. The prevalence is also high among people who have never had an infection with TB; 2.00% (8/401), with a statistically significant p-value of 0.001. In the second study following the program interventions, the prevalence was zero. Although there was no significant change in other variables, the intervention was not well controlled or systematically managed due to the many challenges faced by the study, e.g., the COVID-19 pandemic. Conclusion: The study concluded that the prevalence of TB was 2.2% (9/401). The prevalence among suspected cases sent for testing was 52.9% (9/17). TB is also high in females at 1.8 % (7/401), compared with males at 0.50% (2/401). The study revealed that disease prevalence among the age group 30–39 years old is 1.3% (5/401). The spread of TB has been linked to a lack of education at 1.00% (4/401), overcrowding at 0.8% (3/401), and family income very low at less than 3 dollars at 46.1%( 184/401).