Socio-demographic and Lifestyle characteristics of patients who belong to Drug- Resistant Tuberculosis Categories: A cross-sectional study from Banda District, Uttar Pradesh”

Abstract

Background: Drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) is a major public health concern   that threatens global tuberculosis control efforts. Sociodemographic and behavioral factors may influence the development and distribution of different DR-TB categories.

Objective: To assess the sociodemographic characteristics of DR-TB patients and determine the association between addiction status and DR-TB categories in Banda district, Uttar Pradesh.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from May to December 2024 among all registered DR-TB patients under the National Tuberculosis Elimination Programme (NTEP) in Banda district. A total of 130 patients were included. Data were collected through household visits using a semi-structured questionnaire and in-depth interviews. Information regarding age, sex, religion, family type, socioeconomic status, addiction history, and DR-TB category was obtained. Data were entered into Microsoft Excel and analyzed using descriptive statistics. Associations were assessed using the chi-square test.

Results: Among 130 DR-TB patients, 72 (55.4%) were aged 26–45 years and 72 (55.4%) were male. Most participants were Hindu (76.2%) and belonged to nuclear families (74.6%). The majority were from the lower middle socioeconomic class (72.3%), followed by the lower class (15.4%). Rifampicin-resistant TB was the most common category across all sociodemographic groups. High-resistance forms of TB (MDR-TB, Pre-XDR, and XDR-TB) were concentrated in lower socioeconomic classes. Addiction status was significantly associated with DR-TB categories (p=0.011). Smoking, alcohol consumption, and tobacco use were linked with a greater proportion of highly resistant TB, although resistance was also observed among non-addicted individuals.

Conclusion: DR-TB predominantly affected economically productive age groups and individuals from lower socioeconomic strata. Addiction-related behaviors were significantly associated with resistance patterns, highlighting the need for integrated socioeconomic and behavioral interventions to strengthen DR-TB control strategies.

Keywords: Drug-resistant tuberculosis, MDR-TB, Rifampicin-resistant TB, Socioeconomic status, Addiction, NTEP.