Prevalence, Associated Risk Factors and Rifampicin Resistance Pattern of Pulmonary Tuberculosis Among Children at Debre Markos Referral Hospital, Northwest, Ethiopia

Background: Tuberculosis presents a heightened threat to community health throughout the world but disproportionately afflicts low-income nations. In Ethiopia, TB is a significant health problem in children causing significant morbidity and mortality. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the prevalence, risk factors, and rifampicin resistance of pulmonary tuberculosis among children. Methods: A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted on 384 children less than 15 years of age at Debre Markos Referral Hospital from February to May 2019. Sputum and gastric lavage samples were used to detect Mycobacterium tuberculosis and its rifampicin resistance pattern. MTB/RIF GeneXpert assay was used for the laboratory diagnosis. Results: The prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis and rifampicin resistance was 22 (5.73%) and 2 (0.52%), respectively. Educational status of the family (P = 0.02; AOR = 4.12; CI = 1.28-13.15), residence (P = 0.04; AOR = 3.09; CI =1.05-9.06), history of tuberculosis contact (P <= 0.001; AOR = 14.78; CI = 4.43-49.26), HIV infection (P <= 0.001; AOR = 5.51; CI = 1.72-17.7), malnourished status (P = 0.01; AOR = 4.11; CI = 1.33-12.65), duration of cough greater than 3 weeks (P = 0.04; AOR = 3.2; CI = 11.05-9.78), weight loss (P <= 0.001; AOR = 307.8; CI = 32-2980), and children with mucoid sputum (P = 0.02; AOR = 3.76; CI = 1.2-12.2) were significantly associated with tuberculosis infection. Conclusion: This study showed a high prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis infection among children. Residence, educational status of the family, contact history with tuberculosis cases, HIV, and malnutrition were risk factors for tuberculosis infection. Therefore, periodic surveillance of tuberculosis and assessing risk factors among children should be addressed. Moreover, a regular large scale survey should be conducted to assess the burden and intervene accordingly.