Epidemiological Assessment of Tuberculosis Prevalence across Age and Gender Groups in Ahoada, Rivers State, Nigeria
1
PUBLIC HEALTH, UNIVERSITY OF PORT HARCOURT, PORT HARCOURT, Nigeria
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
Despite medical, scientific and public health advancements, Tuberculosis (TB) remains a serious global health challenge in low income and middle-income countries, including Nigeria, where disease burden differs across demographic groups. Understanding age and gender-related patterns of TB occurrence is important for targeted strategic control measures. This study assessed the prevalence of TB across age and gender groups in Ahoada, Rivers State, Nigeria.
METHODS:
A cross-sectional study was carried out among patients diagnosed of TB at Ahoada Zonal Hospital. A total of 4,490 sputum samples were collected and analyzed using Ziehl-Neelsen staining for acid-fast bacilli and GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay for Mycobacterium tuberculosis detection. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square test, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant.
RESULTS:
From the 4,490 of participants examined, TB prevalence increased progressively with age, peaking in age ≥51 years (23.3%). The lowest prevalence was obtained in infants aged 0-5 years (0.4%). Overall, the highest prevalence (67.8%) occurred in females when compared to males (32.2%). Although in age 6-9 and 10-14 years, higher prevalence was observed in the males, females predominated in the adult age groups. Age and gender were significantly associated with TB occurrence (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS:
This study revealed a nuanced role of gender and age in the prevalence of TB in Ahoada, with the overall higher prevalence recorded in adult females, though a higher prevalence was found in male children aged 6-9 and 10-14 years only, indicating the need for future research to explain underlying mechanisms driving gender and age disparities in the prevalence of TB.
Despite medical, scientific and public health advancements, Tuberculosis (TB) remains a serious global health challenge in low income and middle-income countries, including Nigeria, where disease burden differs across demographic groups. Understanding age and gender-related patterns of TB occurrence is important for targeted strategic control measures. This study assessed the prevalence of TB across age and gender groups in Ahoada, Rivers State, Nigeria.
METHODS:
A cross-sectional study was carried out among patients diagnosed of TB at Ahoada Zonal Hospital. A total of 4,490 sputum samples were collected and analyzed using Ziehl-Neelsen staining for acid-fast bacilli and GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay for Mycobacterium tuberculosis detection. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square test, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant.
RESULTS:
From the 4,490 of participants examined, TB prevalence increased progressively with age, peaking in age ≥51 years (23.3%). The lowest prevalence was obtained in infants aged 0-5 years (0.4%). Overall, the highest prevalence (67.8%) occurred in females when compared to males (32.2%). Although in age 6-9 and 10-14 years, higher prevalence was observed in the males, females predominated in the adult age groups. Age and gender were significantly associated with TB occurrence (p < 0.05).
CONCLUSIONS:
This study revealed a nuanced role of gender and age in the prevalence of TB in Ahoada, with the overall higher prevalence recorded in adult females, though a higher prevalence was found in male children aged 6-9 and 10-14 years only, indicating the need for future research to explain underlying mechanisms driving gender and age disparities in the prevalence of TB.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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