Notes from the field: Descriptive Exploration of childhood tuberculosis frequency and risk factors of zoonotic bovine tuberculosis in Moroto district, Uganda

Abstract

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) in children below 15 years is a public health problem in Uganda. Pastoral communities in Moroto district have close association with cattle and have a high burden of TB. This study assessed the frequency of TB among children below 15 years and investigated their anti-TB drug completion rate. In addition, we assessed the knowledge level of community members in pastoral communities on bovine tuberculosis and its risk factors in Moroto district. Methods: We reviewed registers of TB from five health care centers in Moroto district between September 2020 to May 2021 and data on childhood TB cases was extracted. Community members from pastoral villages were interviewed with a structured questionnaire to assess their knowledge levels on bovine tuberculosis and its risk factors. Results: A total of 746 tuberculosis cases were recorded in the five TB treatment centers of which, 352 (47 %) cases occurred in children below 15 years. The anti-TB drug completion rate was 222 (63%). Majority of the respondents, 86 % had good knowledge on bovine TB. The common risk factors for bovine TB were sharing water sources with livestock 12 (48 %) and drinking raw milk 21 (84 %). Conclusion: Childhood TB frequency of 47 % in Moroto district was higher than the national average of 13 %. The Ministry of Health can focus TB health education to childcare takers to reduce transmission and improve drug completion rate. The TB intervention needs to be expanded to develop acceptable practical solutions to overcome the identified risk factors for bovine TB.