Prevalence and Risk Factors of LTBI at Madura Boarding School as a High-Risk Congregate Setting

Highlights:

1. Boarding school is a high-risk location for TB transmission. Therefore, stricter early prevention measures are required.
2. Gender and knowledge level were significantly related to LTBI, but there was no significant relationship between age and nutritional status.
3. Low level of knowledge was the highest risk factor compared to other factors, with a five times greater risk of contracting LTBI.

Abstract

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB), caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MTB), is a highly contagious airborne disease. High-risk environments with frequent close interactions contribute to the spread of TB. This study examined latent TB infection (LTBI) epidemiology in such settings to inform public health interventions and strategies to curb TB transmission in similar environments.

Methods: This cross-sectional observational study, conducted from January to August 2022 at two boarding schools in Bangkalan, involved 100 adolescents aged 10-18 years old tested for LTBI using interferon-gamma (IFN-γ) release assay (IGRA). Data were collected via questionnaires. Bivariate analysis was used to determine the correlation between LTBI prevalence and each research variable using Pearson correlation and odds ratio (OR). A p-value <0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results: This study found that 30% of 100 adolescents in boarding schools had LTBI. Risk analysis showed a significant association between gender and LTBI, with males having a 1.02 times higher risk (p-value 0.000). Additionally, lower education levels were significantly associated with a 5.2 times higher risk of LTBI (p-value 0.021).

Conclusion: Boarding schools pose a TB transmission risk. Early LTBI screening is essential for TB eradication in Indonesia, and these findings emphasize the need to improve LTBI detection and prophylaxis therapy as a preventive measure against TB outbreaks.