THE AGE-SPECIFIC PREVALENCE OF TYPHOID FEVER AND ASSOCIATED INDIVIDUAL FACTORS AMONG PATIENTS ATTENDING THE OUTPATIENT DEPARTMENT AT BUSHENYI HEALTH CENTRE IV. A CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.51168/j5s1g253Keywords:
Fever, Outpatient Department, Bushenyi Health Centre IV, Bushenyi DistrictAbstract
Background
Typhoid fever remains a major public health problem in many developing countries. Therefore, the study aimed to determine the prevalence of typhoid fever and its associated risk factors among patients attending OPD at Bushenyi Health Centre IV.
Methods
A descriptive cross-sectional study design was employed in Bushenyi Health Centre IV and a quantitative study approach was conducted. Using a systematic random technique, a sample size of 100 respondents was selected. Data was collected using an administered questionnaire to obtain the socio-demographic characteristics and the individual-related factors. The laboratory procedure was also conducted for the diagnosis of typhoid fever in the admitted patients by collecting blood samples from them and sent in the laboratory for testing to determine the prevalence.
Results
The prevalence of typhoid fever was found to be 20%. The most affected age group by typhoid fever in the study was 15-24 years. Low-income status, use of contaminated water for domestic use, drinking unsafe water, improper disposal of human waste, and lack of health education for the people in the area were the most individual factors associated with the spread of typhoid fever.
Conclusion
The inability to pay for the treatment of the disease, fetching water for domestic use from unprotected wells and streams and open waste disposal with failure to get information about typhoid fever prevention contributed to the prevalence of typhoid fever among patients attending OPD at Bushenyi Health IV.
Recommendations
The Ministry of Health in Uganda and health service providers should encourage and implement health education about disease prevention & the importance of proper waste disposal and washing hands with soap.
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