BURDEN OF TUBERCULOSIS AMONG STUDENTS IN TWO ETHIOPIAN UNIVERSITIES

Aims/Purpose: TB outbreaks emerge occasionally in long-term care facilities, including various educational establishments. This study was designed to determine the five years overall prevalence and trend of tuberculosis and associated factors among students at Adama Science and Technology University and Addis Ababa University 6 kilo campus. Methods: A five years retrospective  study was conducted on students’ medical records from  TB Directly Observed Treatment Short Course (DOTS) clinics. The overall prevalence and the trend of smear positive, smear negative and extra pulmonary TB cases were determined. Odds ratio with 95 percent C.I was calculated using the Logistic Regression model. Furthermore, an in-depth assessment of AFB sputum smear examination practices of the lab staffs were  conducted using the WHO's  standard checklist. Results: A total of 112 and 263  TB cases were recorded in Addis Ababa University (AAU), 6 kilo campus and Adama Science and Technology University (ASTU), respectively. There was a statistically significant difference in prevalence  of TB among students  in ASTU compared to that in AAU, 6 kilo campus [AOR:  2.881, 95% CI (1.76-4.71)]. An in-depth interview with the respective University Clinic lab chiefs indicated that the  University  labs were not linked with  the national tuberculosis program and hence quality of sputum smear microscopy examination practices in both study Universities were found to be poor.  Conclusions: The numbers of tuberculosis cases observed in this study were high. Governmental and Nongovernmental agencies involved in  TB control  must consider higher education institutions as focal points  for prevention and elimination of tuberculosis in Ethiopia.