Nutritional deficiency and associated factors among new pulmonary tuberculosis patients of Bale Zone Hospitals, Southeast Ethiopia

Abstract

Objective Tuberculosis remains deadliest communicable diseases responsible for ill health among millions of people each year and is associated with malnutrition. Addressing nutritional deficiency in Tuberculosis patients is an important aspect of Tuberculosis control programme. Therefore, the aim was to assess the magnitude of nutritional deficiency and associated factors among new pulmonary tuberculosis patients of Bale Zone Hospitals, South-east Ethiopia, 2018. Cross-sectional study design was utilized. Data collection was carried out using structured questionnaires and anthropometric measurements. Body mass index was calculated to determine nutritional deficiency. Crude and adjusted odds ratios together with their corresponding 95% confidence intervals were computed. P-value < 0.05 was considered to declare a result as statistically associated. Results Prevalence of nutritional deficiency was 63.2 %. The mean Body mass index for all enrolled participants was 17.86 kg/m2. Employment status of the patients, p-value 0.012 (AOR = 1.82; 95 % CI = 1.14, 2.89) and Khat chewing, p-value 0.02 (AOR = 0.43; 95 % CI = 0.23, 0.85) were factors independently associated with Nutritional Deficiency. Prevalence of Nutritional Deficiency was found to be high. Nutritional support for the needy, regular nutritional assessment and dietary counseling are necessary for better treatment outcome and effective Tuberculosis control programme.