Epidemiological Assessment of Tuberculosis Prevalence across Age and Gender Groups in Ahoada, Rivers State, Nigeria

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Abstract Background: Despite medical, scientific and public health advancements, Tuberculosis (TB) remains a serious global health challenge in low income and middle-income countries, including Nigeria, where disease burden differs across demographic groups. Understanding age and gender-related patterns of TB occurrence is important for targeted strategic control measures. This study assessed the prevalence of TB across age and gender groups in Ahoada, Rivers State, Nigeria. Methodology: A cross-sectional study was carried out among patients diagnosed of TB at Ahoada Zonal Hospital. A total of 4,490 sputum samples were collected and analyzed using Ziehl-Neelsen staining for acid-fast bacilli and GeneXpert MTB/RIF assay for Mycobacterium tuberculosis detection. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Chi-square test, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant. Results: From the 4,490 of participants examined, TB prevalence increased progressively with age, peaking in age ≥51 years (23.3%). The lowest prevalence was obtained in infants aged 0-5 years (0.4%). Overall, the highest prevalence (67.8%) occurred in females when compared to males (32.2%). Although in age 6-9 and 10-14 years, higher prevalence was observed in the males, females predominated in the adult age groups. Age and gender were significantly associated with TB occurrence (p < 0.05). Conclusion: This study revealed a nuanced role of gender and age in the prevalence of TB in Ahoada, with the overall higher prevalence recorded in adult females, though a higher prevalence was found in male children aged 6-9 and 10-14 years only, indicating the need for future research to explain underlying mechanisms driving gender and age disparities in the prevalence of TB.

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