Background: To investigate the prevalence and factors associated with the prevalence of multidrug/rifampicinresistant\ntuberculosis among suspected drug resistant tuberculosis patients in Botswana.\nMethods: A retrospective review of medical records of suspected drug resistant tuberculosis patients receiving care\nat public health facilities in Botswana was conducted from January, 2013 and December, 2014. Patient\ncharacteristics and drug susceptibility data were abstracted from 2568 medical records on to a pre-tested checklist\nform. The prevalence of multidrug/rifampicin resistance was computed. Bivariate and multivariate logistic regression\nwas carried out to determine the factors associated with the prevalence of multidrug/rifampicin in the study\npopulation.\nResults: Overall, multidrug/ rifampicin - resistance among suspected drug resistant tuberculosis patients in\nBotswana were found in 139 (5.4%) cases with 1.3% among new cases and 7.7% among previously treated\ntuberculosis patients. Being a previously treated tuberculosis patient and having a positive smear were found to be\nfactors associated with the prevalence of multidrug/rifampicin-resistant tuberculosis (p < 0.05). However, age, sex,\nliving in urban area and HIV status were not associated with this disease (p > 0.05).\nConclusion: This study highlights a low burden of multidrug/rifampicin resistant tuberculosis among suspected\ndrug resistant tuberculosis patients receiving care at public health facilities in Botswana. Strategies in controlling\nMDR/RR-TB should emphasize on effective implementation of Directly Observation Treatment â?? short course\nstrategy, continuous surveillance of drug resistance cases, prevention of the development of new cases of MDR/RRTB\nand to treat existing patients. Further interventions should focus on strengthening TB infection control activities.
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