Abstract:
Background:Undernutrition increases the risk of tuberculosis (TB), and which in turn TB can
lead to malnutrition. Undernutrition is therefore highly prevalent among people with TB. It has
been demonstrated that undernutrition is a risk factor for progression from TB infection to active
TB disease and that undernutrition at the time of diagnosis of active TB is a predictor of
increased risk of death and TB relapse.
Objective: To assess Undernutrition and Associated factors of adult pulmonary Tuberculosis
patients on direct observed therapy at public hospitals of Jimma Zone, Southwest Ethiopia, in
2022.
Methods: A facility based cross sectional study was conducted from March 22 to June 30, 2022.
The study population was all tuberculosis patients presenting to the tuberculosis clinic of the
public hospitals of Jimma zone. From the study population 332 patients, were selected using a
purposive sampling technique. Data were collected using interviewer-administered translated,
structured questionnaire and anthropometric measurement method. All data were entered in to
EpiData V3.1 and exported to SPSS V23 for analysis. Both bivariate and multivariate logistic
regression analyses was carried out. Significant factors were reported at p < 0.05 with a 95%
confidence interval.
Result:Three hundred twenty-two participated in the study with a response rate of 96.9% from a
total of 322 sampled patients. Among the participants 36.4% were undernourished. Age(AOR =
2.86; 95% CI, 1.62, 4.98). Patients who did not receive nutritional care and support were 1.54
times (AOR = 1.54; 95% CI, 1.07, 2.31). Patients who did not seek dietary advice (AOR = 2.61;
95% CI, 1.44, 4.78). Patients with eating problems (AOR = 1.91; 95% CI, 1.15, 3.23) are more
likely to be malnourished than those with a proper diet.
Conclusion:One third of the adult TB patients are undernourished. The study also elucidates
important factors that affect nutritional status of TB patients. Age, Nutritional care and support,
Dietary counseling and Problem with eating were statistically associated with undernutrition
