Prevalence of tuberculosis among prisoners’ and associated factors in the Sidama region, Ethiopia based on Gene-Xpert diagnosis: Facility-based cross-sectional study

ABSTRACT Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is a challenging and neglected health problem in the prison population, particularly in developing countries. The diagnosis rate, detection rate, and treatment outcomes of TB are lower in prisons than in the general population. This study aimed to identify the prevalence and factors associated with TB among prisoners in the Sidama region. A Gene-Xpert test was used to diagnose TB based on a standard protocol. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted in the Sidama region from May 20 to June 15, 2024, among 403 prisoners who had been held in selected major prisons in the region for a minimum of two months. Results: In total, 403 prisoners participated in this study with a response rate of 100%. The prevalence of TB among prisoners was 45 (11.17%) ranging from 8.0% to 14.3%. The mean age of the study participants was 33.23 ± 9.40 years. Among the 403 respondents, 162 (40.2%) had been incarcerated with TB patients, and 104 (25.8) reported the presence of TB patients at home. Being aged 40 years and above (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 5.967 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 1.11–32.07, P = 0.037]), smokers (AOR = 3.41 [95% CI = 1.09–10.7, P = 0.036]), having contact with known TB cases (AOR = 12.27 [95% CI = 4.47–33.71, P < 0.001]), staying in prison for one year and above (AOR = 4.06, [95% CI = 1.77–9.30, P = 0.001]), and being imprisoned with TB patients (AOR = 3.21 [95% CI = 1.13–9.13, P = 0.029]) positively associated pulmonary TB. Conclusion: The prevalence of TB among prisoners in the Sidama region was high, and devising strategies to address the identified risk factors by involving all relevant stakeholders is essential. Researchers interested in this area should focus on developing cost-effective local and national strategies to reduce the greater burden of TB in prison settings.