The Proportion of Student Tuberculosis Cases and Treatment Outcome at Jimma University Medical Center: 5-Year Retrospective Study (11 Sep. 2010–10 Sep. 2015)

BACKGROUND: University students are highly congregated at classroom and residence (dormitory) which offer a special risk to exposure and transmission of tuberculosis. In Ethiopia, the number of students joining universities is increasing from time to time though infrastructure of the universities has not kept pace with this increment. However, compiled reports on the magnitude and trend of tuberculosis in the higher education institutions of Ethiopia are limited. OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to determine the five years (Sep. 2010 to Sep. 2015) trend of the proportion of student tuberculosis cases and treatment outcome at Jimma University Medical Center. METHODS: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Jimma University Medical Center. A total of 347 students from Jimma University who were registered and treated at Tuberculosis Clinic of Jimma University Medical Center were included in this study. Data were collected by record review using checklist prepared in English. Data were entered into EpiData and cleaned and analyzed by SPSS 20. RESULTS: The mean proportion of student tuberculosis cases among total adult tuberculosis cases was 29.71% (347/1168). The mean proportion of student tuberculosis cases among the total students enrolled was nearly 0.38% (347/92,004). More than three-fourths (76.37% (265/347)) were male. Pulmonary tuberculosis accounted for 72.62% (252/347) and 54.40% (137/252) of these were smear-positive. Eight cases were positive for Human Immunodeficiency Virus. More than four-fifths (281/347) were new cases. The highest proportion (37.62%) was observed in 2010/11 while the lowest (12.03%) was observed in 2012/13. The proportion of tuberculosis dramatically decreased in the third year and significantly increased again in the last two years. Regarding treatment outcome, 98.75% (316/347) had successful treatment outcome (61.71% treatment completed; 38.29% cured). Four cases were defaults and there was not any death. CONCLUSION: The five years' mean proportion of student tuberculosis cases among the total students enrolled was high in this study. However, the treatment success rate was better than the report of previous studies. Therefore, governmental and nongovernmental organizations concerned with tuberculosis must consider universities as focal points for the prevention and control of tuberculosis in Ethiopia.