Factors influencing completion of treatment among tuberculosis patients in Mbarara District, Uganda.

An organised TB treatment programme was started in Uganda in 1989. A cohort analysis of treatment outcome among 1400 patients seen in Mbarara district in 1995 showed a very low compliance rate of 56% and this study attempted to look at operational factors that may be associated with this low compliance rate. The factors that are associated with enhanced completion of treatment include; being smear positive: use of short course chemotherapy; previous TB treatment; if patient returned for repeat smear; if patient did not change unit; and if patient did not change district. Gender and age were not associated with compliance. On unconditional logistic regression, previous TB treatment and being smear positive were found not to be statistically significant. Change of health unit after intensive phase showed the highest risk, with an adjusted odds ratio of 22.31. Of the significant factors only use of standard chemotherapy and change of health unit after intensive phase can be altered to improve compliance.