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Prevalence and risk factors of latent Tuberculosis among adolescents in rural Eastern Uganda


D Mumpe-Mwanja
S Verver
A Yeka
A Etwom
J Waako
W Ssengooba
JKB Matovu
RK Wanyenze
P Musoke
H Mayanja-Kizza

Abstract

Background: Latent Tuberculosis treatment is a key tuberculosis control intervention. Adolescents are a high risk group that is not routinely treated in low income countries. Knowledge of latent Tuberculosis (TB) burden among adolescents may influence policy.
Objectives: We determined the prevalence and risk factors of latent TB infection among adolescents in rural Uganda.
Methods: We analyzed baseline data from a study that assessed the prevalence and incidence of  Tuberculosis disease among adolescents. We extracted socio-demographics, medical assessment information, and tuberculin skin test results and estimated prevalence ratios (PR) of latent TB infection risk factors by binomial regression.
Results: The prevalence of latent TB was 16.1%, 95% CI (15.1 – 17.2). Significant risk factors were: a BCG scar, APR 1.29 (95% CI 1.12 – 1.48); male gender, APR 1.37 (95% CI 1.21 – 1.56); age 17 -18 years, APR 1.46 (95% CI 1.24 – 1.71) and 15-16 years, APR 1.25 (95% CI 1.07 – 1.46) compared to 12-14 years; being out of school, APR 1.31 (95% CI 1.05 – 1.62); and a known history of household TB contact in last 2 years, APR 1.91 (95% CI 1.55 – 2.35)
Conclusion: Targeted routine latent TB treatment among adolescents out of school may be crucial for TB disease control in low income countries.


Keywords: Latent tuberculosis infection, Adolescents, Risk factors, Tuberculin skin testing, Tuberculosis


Journal Identifiers


eISSN: 1729-0503
print ISSN: 1680-6905