FACTORS ASSOCIATED WITH TYPHOID FEVER OCCURRENCE AMONG ADULTS ATTENDING MEDICAL OUTPATIENT UNIT AT BAY REGIONAL HOSPITAL IN BAIDOA DISTRICT, SOMALIA

Abstract

Globally, an estimated 9 million people get sick from typhoid and 110 000 people die from it every year. The infections are usually spread by the faecal-oral route through contaminated water, food and poor sanitation. However, the factors associated with typhoid occurrence are poorly understood in most countries. The aim of this study was to examine the factors associated with typhoid fever occurrence among adults attending Medical Outpatient Unit at Bay regional hospital in Baidoa district, Bay, Somalia. Both qualitative and quantitative designs were adopted in this study as well as cross-sectional study such as observation method. Descriptive statistics (percentages, frequencies, mean and standard deviation) were used to analyze quantitative data, while inferential statistics (correlation, regression and normality test) were done to examine the relationship between the independent variable (occurrence of typhoid) and the associated factors. Lastly, not washing hands (COR = 2.3154, 80% CI = 1.3266, 4.0935) probably due to the absence of clean water and sanitation facilities (odds ratio = 1.8725, 80% CI = 0.2021, 2.9354) presented twice the risk of contracting typhoid fever. The prevalence of typhoid was higher in households containing more than 6 members, not washing hands probably due to the absence of clean water and sanitation facilities presented twice the risk of contracting typhoid fever. Of all the factors, only household size and effectiveness of government policies had significant associations with the occurrence of typhoid fever. Upon adjustment for those significantly associated variables using multivariable logistic regression analysis, the association remained statistically significant (P = 0.00). Based on the factors that were significant at multivariate level, this study recommends that maintaining a lower household size and effective implementation of government policies on typhoid prevention could be effective strategies for the prevention of typhoid fever among adults attending Medical Outpatient Unit at Bay regional hospital.