Is Tuberculosis (TB) Manyatta Strategy a Working Solution for Turkana Nomadic Pastoralists with TB in Lodwar County Hospital, in the County of Turkana, Northern Kenya: A Case Control Study
Utilisation of Tuberculosis (TB) Manyatta centre (an inpatient TB centre based treatment model for nomads) by the Turkana nomadic population has been one of the TB control strategies implemented by the Kenyan government to accommodate TB infected nomadic patients in order to reduce TB morbidity and mortality. The utilization of this centre has been declining; this has prompted to find out what has led to this low utilization? The study aimed at identifying factors associated with the low utilization of TB Manyatta centre by Turkana nomadic pastoralists and the literature review was undertaken in objective to establish the potential contributing factors to the low uptake of Manyatta. Quantitative observational case control design was used and the study population the researcher was interested were TB patients admitted in Lodwar Hospital TB program from January 2008 to December 2012. The information from TB registers, TB Manyatta register and TB reports were accessed, and a total of 1382 TB patients sampled. The systematic sampling method produced 526 TB patients that utilized Manyatta and 856 for not used. The Univariate Odd ratios (OR) for each variable were calculated, and multivariate analysis performed indicated that gender, distance, marital status and education level as demographic factors that influenced the like hood of utilization of Manyatta. The study find out that The Multivariate odds ratio for educated patient was at 0.35 (95% CI 0.13 - 0.94), the 0-50km distance 0.25(95%0. 10-0.72), male gender 3.14(95% CI 1.98-4.97) and married patients OR being 0.17(95%0. 06 -0.47). These variables showed a statistical significance. The researcher recommends the Kenyan ministry of health to intensify health education on TB treatment literacy, construct Manyatta nearer to nomadic dwellings, roll out health generic strategies within nomadic pastoralists population that promote health among the female population, work against cultures that prohibit accessibility of TB services by non-married women and ensure services are women-friendly.