The Role of Immunity and Living Conditions in the Transmission of Tuberculosis Disease in Abakaliki Ebonyi State, South-East Nigeria

Certain living conditions have been reported to increase the susceptibility, transmission and spread of tuberculosis in certain socioeconomic class. The population of the study consisted of 233 respondents in Abakaliki metropolis. A purposive sampling technique was used for selection of study participants. The reliability of the instrument was determined using Cronbach alpha. Information on Patient’s demographic profile, clinical manifestations of TB, laboratory diagnosis of TB disease, sources of TB infection, living conditions of respondents, Risk factors of TB and diets of respondents was collected. The respondents were presented with a questionnaire stating the significance of the study and specific instructions was given on how to fill the questionnaire. Sputum based laboratory test results of suspected TB patients and HIV status of respondents was obtained from the bench book. Results showed that living conditions such as dusty environments (p=0.01), family size <5 (P=0.00), displaced persons (P=0.03), close contacts (P=0.05), life-styles like tobacco snuffing (P=0.00) and HIV infection are important risk factors in the development, transmission and spread of TB disease. Certain lifestyles such as cigarette smoking (P=0.88), consumption of alcohol (P=0.03) and dietary habits showed no significant association with TB disease. Therefore, necessary measures should be put in place by relevant government agencies to combat high prevalence of TB and HIV co-infection and also improve the living conditions of infected respondents in order to negate the increasing transmission rate of TB.