Malnutrition and socio-demographic factors associated with pulmonary tuberculosis in Timor and Rote Islands, Indonesia.
OBJECTIVE
To identify nutritional and socio-demographic factors for the development of tuberculosis (TB) in Timor and Rote Island, Indonesia, so that intervention programmes can be developed to address these factors.


METHODS
In a case-control study, we enrolled new sputum smear-positive pulmonary TB patients as cases, and neighbours matched for sex and age as controls. Data obtained included history of TB, socio-demographic factors and nutritional status.


RESULTS
In the study, 121 TB patients and 371 controls participated. The mean age was 30 years: 56.3% were male and 43.7% female. Of the TB patients, 87% had malnutrition compared to 33% among controls. The mean body mass index (BMI) of the patients was significantly lower than that of the controls (16.1 +/- 2.3 kg/m(2) vs. 19.4 +/- 3.0 kg/m(2)). Factors associated with the development of TB were BMI (OR 0.5, 95%CI 0.4-0.6), family history of TB (OR 3.2, 95%CI 1.6-6.4), living in an extended family (OR 2.7, 95%CI 1.5-4.8), being non-indigenous to Timor and Rote Islands (OR 2.9, 95%CI 1.2-6.8) and being unemployed (OR 3.8, 95%CI 1.7-8.6).


CONCLUSIONS
Among patients with active pulmonary TB, the prevalence of malnutrition was very high. Malnutrition, which is a general problem for the whole community and particularly among people not indigenous to Timor and Rote, should be addressed in the fight against TB.
Pakasi
Trevino A
TA
Department of Community Medicine, University of Indonesia, Jakarta, Indonesia. ikk@cbn.net.id
Karyadi
E
E
Dolmans
W M V
WM
van der Meer
J W M
JW
van der Velden
K
K
D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D015897:Comorbidity; D003710:Demography; D004651:Employment; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007214:Indonesia / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000453:epidemiology*; D015995:Prevalence; D012307:Risk Factors; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000453:epidemiology*