Gender Differentials in Tuberculosis: An Experience from a Rural Tuberculosis Unit of Burdwan District, West Bengal, India

AIM: In India, RNTCP reports more male tuberculosis patients than female. In this study we aimed to find out the gender differences in clinical presentation and treatment outcome. METHOD: A record based study was conducted in Bhatar tuberculosis unit of Burdwan district among 758 registered tuberculosis patients of November 2010 to December 2011. Data were analyzed by SPSS software. RESULT: Male was 76.1%, female was 23.9% with male preponderance in each age group. In category I, majority of the male and female patients were new sputum smear positive. In category II, majority of the male and female patients belonged to relapse (35.8%) and other group (69.2%) respectively. Cure rate and treatment completion rate was more among males and females respectively. In category I, female defaulters were more, while in category II, male defaulter was higher. CONCLUSION: Integrated research is necessary to find out these differences that will be helpful in improving the efficacy of the programme. [TAF Prev Med Bull 2014; 13(2.000): 109-114]