Poster Presenter

Factors That Influence Multi-Drug Resistant Tuberculosis In Malawi
Noel Dzimnenani Mbirimtengerenji
Africa

Introduction: Tuberculosis is the third leading cause of death in Malawi and it is also a cause of morbidity and mortality rate world wide. Although it is curable and Malawi registers 78% treatment success under DOTS and above average in SADC region, tuberculosis claims the lives of roughly 1.7 million people per year world wide.

There is an increase in a number of people on TB retreatment who are developing resistant to tuberculosis treatment, but the factors that are influencing this development are currently not known.

Methodology: This descriptive quantitative research was conducted to establish and determine the factors that influence multi-drug resistant tuberculosis. The study was conducted at Zomba Central Hospital. Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital and 4 other District hospitals in Malawi.

Data was collected using a semi- structured questionnaire to 120 convenient retreatment clients in the hospitals and related clinics. Data analysis was done using (SPSS) version 16 for the multivariate and regression models.

Findings: The results of the study has shown that education level, gender, marital status, occupation, side effects o tuberculosis drugs; lack of food, financial and social support and stigma and discrimination are the influencing factors of drug resistance tuberculosis.

Conclusion: Emergency of drug resistant tuberculosis is putting more pressure on government resources, increasing poverty and retarding development of the country as a whole. The government and other non governmental organizations who are working towards eradicating this disease can benefit if they can adopt the recommendations.