Tuberculosis among Jimma University Undergraduate Students: First Insight about the Burden of Tuberculosis in Ethiopia Universities-Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Ethiopian universities are facilities where students live in relative overcrowding condition. This might favor the chance of tuberculosis transmission among students. This study was done to determine the magnitude and associated factors of tuberculosis among Jimma University students.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was done from February 2015 to July 2015. Hundred twenty-nine consented participants were interviewed using structured questionnaire. Biological specimens were collected and cultured on Mycobacterium Growth Indicator Tube. Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex verification was done by SD BIOLINE TB Ag MPT64 Rapid test. Frequency distribution, logistic regression, and independent sample t-test were used to analyze the data using SPSS Version 20.

Result: Magnitude of all forms of tuberculosis among Jimma University undergraduate students was 209.1 per 100000-student population. Contact history [AOR: 4.76, 95% CI (1.31-17.31)], smoking [AOR: 6.67, 95% CI (1.51-29.44)], khat chewing [AOR: 5.56, 95% CI (1.66-18.69)], and low body mass index [AOR: 5.37, 95% CI (1.46-19.78)] were determinants of tuberculosis.

Conclusion: The magnitude of tuberculosis among Jimma University undergraduate students is high. TB is associated with previous tuberculosis patient contact and behavioral factors. Hence, students with these risk factors should be given enough attention for the control of TB in Jimma University.