Logistic Regression Analysis of Factors Influencing Tuberculosis Prevalence in Nairobi Embakasi Sub-Counties

This paper has examined the factors explaining prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) in the Embakasi sub-counties of Nairobi through logistic regression analysis. Patient records at the chest clinic of Mama Lucy Kibaki Teaching and Referral Hospital, which is the primary health facility of the Embakasi area, were used to gather the data. Tuberculosis is an infectious disease that is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and normally attacks the lungs but may also propagate to other organs as a significant public health problem of the world. Although the infection has been managed through early diagnosis and treatment in developed countries, tuberculosis (TB) is still very widespread in most areas with low income levels such as sub-Saharan Africa. Kenya is in the 13th position in the list of 22 countries that have contributed approximately 80 percent of the world tuberculosis (TB) burden with the majority of the infections falling within the 15-44 years age group. The research was conducted to determine the major socio-demographic and environmental factors that have a relationship with the prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) in Embaksi. The logistic regression analysis showed that alcoholism and congestion in the household were the most significant predictors of tuberculosis (TB) infection. The five sub-counties had similar prevalence rates and the likelihood of being infected with tuberculosis (TB) in Embaksi was, on the whole, some 4.66 times greater than the national one. This evidence highlights the necessity of specific interventions that should be delivered to mitigate behavioral and environmental risk factors in order to reduce tuberculosis (TB) transmission in urban low-income environments.