Abstract

Aarati Acharya*, Dr. Manoj Koirala and Satya Lamichhane

ABSTRACT

Tuberculosis is the sixth leading cause of death in Nepal. Comorbidity of TB and depression is common. Depressed patients are less likely to seek treatment or consistently take their medications and are more likely to result in default. This in turn affects the patient’s compliance to TB treatment that can increase mortality from the disease. Thus this study was conducted to identify the depression among patients with tuberculosis and its association with the selected variables. A descriptive cross sectional research study was carried out on a sample of 122 patients who were taking anti-tuberculosis treatment from all DOTS centers in Pokhara. Non probability, consecutive sampling was used to select the sample. Data was collected after informed consent through face-to-face structured interview schedule. Obtained data were analysed by using descriptive statistics like frequency, percentage, mean and standard deviation. Inferential statistics chi-square test was used to find out the association between depression and selected variables. The prevalence of depression among patients with TB was found to be 38.5 percent. Among total depressed 68.0 percent of them had mild depression and remaining (32.0%) had moderate depression. None of them were having severe depression. Significant association of depression was found with educational status (p=.049), category of treatment (p=.003), types of tuberculosis (p=.001), drugs side effects (p=.001), comorbid physical illness (p<.001), smoking (p<.001) and alcohol consumption habit (p=.001) and effects on earning (p=.003). Based on findings, it is concluded that about one third of the patients with TB have depression of varying severity. Health care personnels in DOTS center should draw attention and take correct measures to screen and treat depression among patients withTB.