Determining the Impact of Age, Sex and Location in the Spread of Tuberculosis Infection among Patients, in Bayelsa State Nigeria, using Molecular Technique

Introduction: Tuberculosis is a disease condition caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Several predisposing factors such as Age, Sex and overcrowding may have affected the prevalence of tuberculosis in various locations including Bayelsa State and other parts of the world. Aim: The aim of this study is to know if Age, Sex and Location determines tuberculosis rate of infection, using molecular technique to isolate Mycobacterium tuberculosis among tuberculosis patients in Bayelsa State, Nigeria. Methodology: We analyzed a total of 102 sputum samples, which were collected from each of the participants. GeneXpert molecular method was used to identify Mycobacterium tuberculosis and Rifampicin resistant cases. The data and results obtained are statistically analyzed with Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) version 21. Result: Out of the 102 sputum samples screened, 91(89.2%) were confirmed to have tuberculosis, Tuberculosis among male and female were 54(52.9%) and 37(36.3%) respectively, while rifampicin resistance among male and female were 3(2.9%) and 5(4.9%) respectively. Tuberculosis infection among male and female were not statistically significant (p = .75). The age intervals are 11-20, 21-31, 31-40, 41-50, 51-60, 61-70 and 71-80. 31-40 years had the highest tuberculosis prevalence of 30(29.4). The various locations were Brass, Ekeremor, Kolokuma/Opokuma, Nembe, Ogbia, Southern Ijaw and Sagbama Local Governmemt Areas. People residing in Yenagoa local Government had more positive case of both rifampicin resistant 5(4.9%) and non-rifampicin resistant tuberculosis infection. Conclusion: Tuberculosis infection is more predominant among male in Bayelsa State than female but rifampicin resistance species are more predominant among females. The age group interval of 40-41 had the highest prevalence of tuberculosis infection while the highest location of tuberculosis infection is Yenagoa.