DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2015.v03i01.047

Pages: 228-233

Globally, the case notification rate (CNR) of tuberculosis (TB) in males has been reported to far exceed the rates for females even though TB is a leading infectious cause of death in women worldwide. The aim of the study was to determine the gender differences occurring in patients presenting in the TB clinic of University of Uyo Teaching Hospital (UUTH), Nigeria in 2012. This study was a retrospective review of records of clients attending the TB clinic of the hospital between January and December 2012. Data collected was analyzed using MS-Excel and Graph pad prism software version 5.1. A total of 265 clients were registered in the clinic in 2012, out of which 146 (55.1%) were males and 119 (44.9%) were females. The CNR for males consistently exceeded those for females in eight out of the 12 months reviewed. Majority of the males, 84.2% and females, 81.5% were above 15 years of age. The HIV co-infection rate was significantly higher among females, 51.2% compared to the males, 37% (p<0.05). All or most of the defaulters recorded in the clinic in 4 out of the first 6 months of 2012 were females, while the males had a higher success rate in 4 of the 6 months assessed. Although the CNR was higher among males, the higher defaulter rate, HIV co-infection and lower treatment success rates recorded among the females was worrisome. Factors contributing to these negative indices among female TB clients in this environment should be explored.