Understanding the dynamics of extensively Drug-Resistant Tuberculosis
(XDR-TB) prevalence and factors in Nigeria: Challenges, Opportunities
for control
Abstract
Introduction Tuberculosis (TB) in Nigeria is a serious disease
that is fast becoming deadly. In Nigeria, the burden and mortality of
the disease are high, making it one of the infectious diseases with a
significant public health challenge. Aim This paper is aimed at
examining the prevalence of TB in Nigeria, with emphasis on one of its
strains, namely XDR-TB, and factors promoting the disease and its
strains, among others. Methodology A literature search was done
about Tuberculosis in Nigeria using the keywords; ‘Drug Resistance;
Factors; Infection Rate; Mortality Rate; Nigeria; XDR-TB’ through
databases such as PubMed, ResearchGate, Google Scholar and World Health
Organization between a 10-year-period. Result We found that
Nigeria is among the 10 countries in the world with very high
tuberculosis incidence and mortality. A number of factors aid the
prevalence of the disease in Nigeria: poverty, malnutrition,
overpopulation and overcrowding, ignorance, stigma and discrimination,
etc. When it comes to the diagnosis of tuberculosis, Nigeria encounters
a lot of challenges. For instance, the country lacks access to quality
diagnostic facilities, the healthcare system is ill-equipped, and a good
number of the populace lacks the necessary awareness about the dangerous
nature of the disease. Conclusion The Nigerian government,
health workers, key stakeholders, and communities, both affected and
non-affected, should all come together to fight off Tuberculosis and its
spread in Nigeria. In order to be successful, the eradication effort
against TB in Nigeria has to permanently eliminate the causative agent
and risk factors everywhere in the country as pathogen prevalence is
globally reduced to zero, hence removing the risk of re-infection.