Background: Nigeria is being ranked among the top five countries for tuberculosis (TB), Multi Drug Resistance TB and HIV deaths worldwide with the prevalence of 219/100, 000 population, 2.9% and 1.4% respectively. Non tuberculous mycobacteria (NTM) is an emerging health problem and an important cause of tuberculosis-like pulmonary disease. This study investigated the demographic and risk factors associated with Non tuberculous mycobacteria in Kaduna State, Nigeria.

Method: In a cross sectional study, structured questionnaire were used to collect demographic characteristics (age, sex, ethnicity, education, and marital status), health/behavioral factors (HIV, diabetes, smoking, alcohol use) and environmental exposures (farming, animal contact, and dust season).The questionnaires were administered at the point of sample collection by oral interview of the participants. The data generated were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS)   software.Simple frequency and percentages were the descriptive statistics used in this study for the analysis of results obtained. Chi-square was used to assess whether or not a relationship exists between risk factors and the prevalence of NTM at 95% level of significance. The degree of association between the risk factors examined and NTM were analyzed using odds ratio (OR).

Results: From the 300 questionnaires analyzed, there was no significant statistical associated between demographic characteristics examined (p<0.05). However, female participants were higher (56.3%) than the male (43.7%). Participants within the age range of 35-44 had the higher positive cases (20.8%). Participants who were married, had medium economic status and were civil servants had the higher NTM cases of 13.3%, 21.5% and 23.5% respectively. Among the risk factors examined, Cigarrete smoking, alcohol drinking and HIV status were significantly associated with the prevalence of NTM (p>0.05).

Conclusion: This study concludes that Cigarrete smoking, alcohol consumption and HIV status were the risk factors significantly associated with the prevalence of NTM within the study population. Hence, there is need for awareness creation and sensitization to enhance effective prevention and control of this public health threat.  

Keywords: Demographic, Risk Factors, Tuberculosis, Non-tuberculous Mycobacteria, Kaduna State.

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I Ahmadu

Department of Microbiology, Faculty of Life Sciences, Ahmadu Bello University, Zaria, Nigeria