Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is a common and often deadly infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacterium, usually mycobacterium tuberculosis in humans. The disease has major causes of morbidity and mortality, particularly where the diagnostic and control program is not far extended.
Objective: To compare the treatment outcomes of tuberculosis patients in a private clinic with a governmental health center in Jimma city, Ethiopia.
Methods: A 10-year cross-sectional retrospective systemic record review was conducted to compare the treatment outcomes, and to describe the socio-demographic factors associated with the outcome in a private clinic with a governmental health center in Jimma city, Jimma, Ethiopia from September 12, 2007, to September 10, 2017. Finally, SPSS/EPI INFO analyzed data.
Results: The present study revealed that within a 10 year duration the private clinic gives anti-TB treatment coverage for 582 patients whereas the governmental health center treats 510 patients. The treatment success rate of the private clinic is 98.1% which is 1.03-fold that of the governmental health center (95.3%); while the treatment failure of the private clinic was 0.2%, but there was no treatment failure in the governmental health center.
Conclusion: Both sectors achieved the expected WHO targets by newly recommended strategy for TB treatment, DOTS (Directly Observed Treatment Short Course) and treatment success is much better to standard. This shows good progress of DOTS strategy and a decrease of noncompliance in this area. Age, educational level, and the types of TB diagnosis and treatment outcome of the patients were statistically associated in both sectors. Better counseling and awareness about the disease should have to be given for every anti-TB treatment receiving patients, despite their educational level and occupational status in both sectors.
Keywords: comparing; governmental health center; private clinic; treatment outcome; tuberculosis.
© 2022 Abera et al.