Kinetics and demographic studies of tuberculosis among patients attending National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme, Owo Centre, Ondo State, Nigeria

The question of whether we are winning the age-long war against Mycobacterium tuberculosis disease still remains. Thus, a retrospective study was carried-out to determine the occurrence of new cases of infection and the kinetic factors that may precipitate the infection in the society. Retrospective review of program data was done using a pro formal to retrieve data of patients’ that attended National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme, Owo Centre, between January 2008 and December 2012. There were 342 new cases within the period on focus, 178 (54.9%) were males and 156 (46.2%) were females, there was no significant difference (given α1 = 01.3, P = 0.022). The vulnerable age group was 35 - 44 years followed by 25 - 34 years. The occurrence of new cases of Tuberculosis was higher in 2012 than the previous years. Category (CAT) 1 regimen was more efficient than category (CAT) 2 regimen. The record revealed that 63.7% were cured, 11.7% were dead and 24.6% defaulted or transferred out to other centres. The trend could be as a result of marked surge in population of the community that is growing toward urbanization, socio-economic status of the community, malnutrition as result of poverty and low level of living standard. There is therefore the need to step-up enlightenment campaigns to educate the masses on the need to report cases of suspected pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) infection and also adhere to treatment regimen as prescribed by clinicians; non-compliance to treatment may be responsible for the persistence of this age-long infection in the society.