Prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis and associated factors among Tanzanite Mineworkers in Mererani, Tanzania

Abstract

Background: Tuberculosis remains an important public health problem in developing country especially in this era of HIV/AIDS. Mineworkers have been shown to have a very high risk of becoming infected with tuberculosis (TB), especially in Sub-Saharan Africa. However there is paucity of information on the prevalence of PTB among Tanzanite mineworkers that can be used to guide intervention and inform policy. This study aimed at assessing prevalence of PTB and its associated characteristics. . Method: Across-sectional study was conducted in Mererani mining site between March and June2017.Mineworkers, who met inclusion criteria were randomly selected and interviewed using a standard questionnaire to obtain information regarding socio-demographic and potential risk factors. Sputum samples were collected and analysed using AFB and Gene Xpert while blood samples were subjected to HIV rapid test, using SD Bioline HIV 1/2 3.0 as a screening test and Uni-gold as confirmatory test. Data was analysed using Epi Info version 3.5.1 and Microsoft excel soft ware. Univariate, bivariate multivariate analysis was carried out where frequency, measure of central tendency and dispersion were used to summarize data and odds ratio was used as measure of association. Results: A total of 293 mineworkers were recruited. Their median age (±SD) was (35years±9.98), with a range of 18 to 73 years. Of 293 sputum samples, 26 (8.9%) were positive for PTB while 13 (4.5%) of the 291 blood samples were positive for HIV infection, while 5(1.7%) of the miners had PTB/HIV co-infection. None of the PTB positive sputum samples were resistant to rifampicin. The odds of developing PTB was 10.2 (AOR 10.2 95% CI 1.38-75.44) times higher among those who were exposed to silica dust, 9.1 among those infected with HIV (AOR 9.09 95% CI 2.39-34.06), 2.1 among smokers (AOR 2.07 95% CI 0.78-5.52), and 2.8 among those without knowledge of TB transmission (AOR 2.76 95% CI 0.95-8.00). Conclusion: The prevalence of PTB in mineworkers was high (8.9%) and was significantly associated with HIV infection, smoking and exposure to silica of TB transmission. Control of TB in Mererani would need to address these factors.