Factors Contributing to Drug Resistant Tuberculosis: A Case Study of Tuberculosis Patients Attending Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital Nakuru, Kenya

Tuberculosis remains a major cause of morbidity and mortality in Kenya. The main challenges compounding Tuberculosis control include drug resistant tuberculosis, Human Immunodeficiency Virus /Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS) co-infections and the declining funding for tuberculosis control among others. Factors such as non-adherence to therapy, poor drug quality or poor prescribing practices have been reported to contribute to Drug Resistance TB. The study aimed at establishing factors that contribute to development of Drug Resistant Tuberculosis among patients on TB treatment attending the Rift Valley Provincial General Hospital, Nakuru. The study employed a cross-sectional descriptive survey of patients with tuberculosis. Primary data was collected using semi structured questionnaire while secondary data was retrieved from the patient’s treatment records. Clearance to conduct the study was sought from the Hospital Authorities and written consent obtained from the participants. Data was analyzed using computer Statistical Package for Social Science. Fifty three percent of the study participants were in the 21 – 40 years age brackets while the male to female ratio was 5:4. Majority (61.3 %) of the patients were co-infected with HIV/AIDS and 42.5 % were new smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), 23.7 % were smear negative PTB or Extra-Pulmonary tuberculosis (EPTB), 28.5 % were retreatment and/ or relapse while 4.3 % were chronic and/ or multi-drug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB). Eighty five percent of the participants adhered to treatment while patients beginning to feel better was cited as the major factor (42.5 %) leading to non-adherence to treatment. High percentage of tuberculosis - HIV/AIDS co-infection and high prevalence of tuberculosis among women was observed in this study. There need for impact assessment of the 2007/ 2008 post-elections violence on the spread of TB and development of MDR-TB in the affected parts of Rift Valley Province.