Factors Associated Quality of Life of Tuberculosis Patients among the Karen Hill Tribes at Thailand–Myanmar Border, Tak Province

Abstract

This cross-sectional analytic study aimed to revealed quality of life and factors associated to quality of life of tuberculosis patients among the Karen hill tribes at Thailand–Myanmar border, all participants were 77 tuberculosis patients from Karen hill tribes

The results showed that the tuberculosis patients among the Karen hill tribes had good quality of life for 12.99%. Male had good quality of life better than female 14.00%, Age less than 50 years old had good quality of life better than age more than 50 years old 20.00%, People who are study had good quality of life better than who are not study 25.00%, People who are employed had good quality of life better than who are unemployed 20.00%. Factors associated with quality of life in tuberculosis patients among the Karen hill tribes include Age (OR=7.75, 95%CI=0.96-350.37, p-value=0.039), Occupation (OR=7.75, 95%CI=0.96-350.37, p-value=0.039), Duration of treatment for tuberculosis (OR=0.15, 95%CI=0.30-0.84, p-value=0.015), Directly Observed Treatment Short course (DOTS) (OR=0.11, 95%CI=0.02-0.93, p-value=0.035)

This study showed that the majority of the tuberculosis patients of the Karen tribe along the Thai-Myanmar border, Tak province had low quality of life. In terms of age, it was recommended that family members should pay closely attention to the patients older than 50 years, by ensuring that they had a proper medication because patients usually were not able to read and forgetful, and living in a good environment. In terms of occupation, the patients were not able to work due to weakness. Many tuberculosis patients were not accepted for job due to stigmatization of tuberculosis patients. Public health professionals should enhance TB understanding in workplace particularly with employer and co-workers to create proper and safety working environment. In terms of time, patients who take tuberculosis medication less than or equal to 6 months often experience side effects of the drug, causing the patient to refuse to continue taking the drug. Therefore, the condition of patients are being worse. Staffs should provide health education for the side effects of TB drugs or change other drugs that the patient has the least adverse effects in order to allow the patient to continue taking the medication. Patients who are under the supervision of tuberculosis (DOTS), staffs or health volunteers should take responsibility for taking care of patients to complete taking medicines.