Cross-sectional study of Sociodemographic Factors Affecting Persistent Sputum Positivity among Adult Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients under Treatment in a Tuberculosis Unit, Bagalkot, Karnataka

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) treatment not only cures the patient but also helps in prevention, as it stops transmission of infection by rendering the patient’s sputum non-infectious. Sputum conversion is an important milestone during treatment and is to be achieved as soon as possible. When there is non-conversion, patient sputum persists to be positive for tubercle bacilli and patient continues to be infective. There are multiple factors responsible for this persistence of sputum positivity which have explored by various studies. There are variations in the association of these predisposing factors with persistent sputum positivity. Objectives: The current study was conducted to know the prevalence and the sociodemographic factors responsible for persistent sputum positivity in Bagalkot Taluk TB unit. Materials and Methods: A total of 170 adult pulmonary TB (Category – I) patients of Bagalkot Taluk TB Unit were selected. A community-based survey with the pre-tested questionnaire was administered to collect relevant sociodemographic data regarding factors that influence persistent sputum positivity. Laboratory data were collected through concerned health facilities. Data were tabulated in MS-EXCEL 2013 and analyzed in Openepi version 3.01 and SPSS version 20. Results:  Among 170 patients, pulmonary TB was seen more frequently among males (63.5%), middle-aged (31.7%), urban residents (55.3%), lower socioeconomic status (95.4%), and illiterates (28.8%). Prevalence of persistent sputum positivity was 10.59%. Among the persistent sputum positive patients, a higher prevalence was seen in males (66.67%) and lower socioeconomic class (88.33%). Age, literacy, and occupation were associated, whereas gender, place of residence, type of family, smoking, and alcoholism were not associated with persistent sputum positivity. Key words: Non-conversion, pulmonary tuberculosis, risk-factors, sociodemographic factors, sputum