TITLE:
Assessment of Health-Related Quality of Life of Tuberculosis Patients in Fako Division, South-West Region of Cameroon
AUTHORS:
Benjamin D. Thumamo Pokam, Pius Fokam, Theophile Nana Njamen, Prisca Wabo Guemdjom, Anne E. Asuquo
KEYWORDS:
Tuberculosis, Quality of Life, Continuation Phase of Treatment, SF-36 Questionnaire, South West Region, Cameroon
JOURNAL NAME:
Journal of Tuberculosis Research,
Vol.8 No.3,
July
14,
2020
ABSTRACT: Background: Tuberculosis (TB) caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis is one of
the top 10 causes of death worldwide. Despite the global impact of TB and
treatment received, a gap
persists between treatment and quality of life of the patients
especially in resource limited countries. This study therefore evaluated the
health related quality of life of TB patients and the different factors
influencing their quality of life at the post intensive
phase of their treatment in the Fako
division of the South-West Region of Cameroon. Methods: A hospital based cross
sectional study was carried out
in 4 tuberculosis treatment centers, namely two regional (Buea and Limbe) and
two district (Tiko and Muyuka) hospitals in Fako Division between June and
July 2017. One hundred and sixty-seven TB patients were enrolled in the study
and relevant information from
them was gathered using the SF-36 questionnaire. Various aspects such as
their perception of the disease, their socio-demographics and socio-economics
conditions were evaluated. Results: Of the 167 participants enrolled
in the study, 95 (56.9%) were male and 72 (43.1%) were female. One hundred
and thirty-three (79.6%) of the 167 participants were affected by pulmonary
tuberculosis and 34 (20.4%) by extra-pulmonary tuberculosis. Fifty-five
(32.9%) were HIV positive and 90 (53.9%) had been receiving treatment for 4 - 6 months, 73 (43.7%) for 1 - 3 months and 4 (2.4%) for 7 - 9 months. The lowest and highest scores were recorded on the role limitation due
to emotional problems scale (30.54 ±
35.36), and on the social functioning scale (47.68
± 16.33) respectively. There was a significant difference (p = 0.021), between pulmonary and
extra pulmonary tuberculosis (49.15 ± 16.08 vs. 41.91 ± 16.25) on the social functioning. Financial difficulty restraining drug collection affected the general
health perception (p = 0.003), vitality (p = 0.007), emotional well-being (p
Conclusion: The quality of life of the
TB patients in the study area was generally poor. Counselling
of diagnosed TB patients and provision of financial assistance through a
social package can improve the acceptance of the disease during their treatment period to avoid default and relapse.