Trend in magnitude of tuberculosis in Awi Zone, Northwest Ethiopia: a five-year tuberculosis surveillance data analysis

OBJECTIVE: Ethiopia is among the 30 high tuberculosis (TB) burden countries with annual estimated TB incidence of 164/100,000 population and death rate of 28/100,000 population for 2017. We analyzed the trend in magnitude of tuberculosis in Awi Zone from July 08/2011 up to June 27/2016. RESULTS: Tuberculosis surveillance data (2012 to 2016) was extracted from Awi Zonal Health Department Health Management Information System database and TB program unit and analyzed by Microsoft Excel 2007(®). Epi-Info(7) software was used for tuberculosis trend analysis using Chi square for trends. A total of 8193 new TB cases were included in the analysis, of which 18.7% were smear positive PTB cases, 28.5% smear negative PTB (PTB−) cases and 52.7% were extra pulmonary TB (EPTB) cases. All form TB prevalence rate was 213/100,000 population in 2012 and significantly decreased to 189 in 2016 (Trend χ(2) = 11.97; P = 0.00054). Similarly, all form TB incidence rate was 167/100,000 population in 2012 and decreased to 122 in 2016 (Trend χ(2) = 37.6; P = 0.000). Overall, the magnitude of tuberculosis had decreased over the periods reviewed. The proportion of EPTB is high. We recommend culture and chest X-ray diagnostic services expansion to capture EPTB and PTB− cases.