Abstract
ABSTRACT
ABSTARCT
Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health concern, particularly in
healthcare settings where the risk of nosocomial transmission is high. At Masaka Regional
Referral Hospital in Uganda, healthcare workers (HCWs) face an elevated risk of TB
exposure due to their frequent contact with infected patients and potential lapses in infection
control measures.
Methodology: This was a crossectional prospective analytical study that employed
quantitative study techniques to establish the detrminants of TB infection exposure among
health workers at Masaka Regional Referal Hospital and covered three specific objectives,
the socio-demographic factors, the occupation related factors and personal health factors. and
their association with TB infection exposure.
Results: In the study, 40 healthcare workers were interviewed using semi-structured
questionnaires and the study found no significant correlation between socio-demographic
factors and TB infection exposure, with the following results: sex (r = 0.1089, p = 0.5037),
age (r = -0.0586, p = 0.7196), marital status (r = -0.0555, p = 0.7339), and education level (r
= -0.0687, p = 0.6735). Similarly, there was no significant relationship between occupational
factors and TB exposure, such as cadre (r = -0.1124, p = 0.4900), duration of service (r = –
0.0663, p = 0.6844), and unit of deployment (r = 0.2439, p = 0.1294). Furthermore, personal
health factors such as immunocompromising conditions (r = 0.1529, p = 0.3464), respiratory
diseases (r = -0.0167, p = 0.9186), and smoking behavior (r = 0.2727, p = 0.0886) were also
not significantly associated with TB infection exposure.
Conclusion and recommendation: The study concluded that socio-demographic and
occupational factors were not significantly linked to TB exposure among healthcare workers,
with personal health factors like immunocompromising conditions and smoking status
showing weak, non-significant correlations.The study recommends strengthening IPC
measures, conducting regular health screenings, providing hands-on PPE training, and
implementing workplace smoking cessation programs. Further research is advised to examine
contextual factors affecting TB exposure risk.
Nursing implication: This study highlights the importance of universal IPC practices, regular
health screenings, and lifestyle interventions to reduce TB exposure among nurses. Nurses’
advocacy and research can inform policies that enhance workplace safety and TB prevention