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 facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted in Banda district, Uttar Pradesh, from May 2024 to December 2024. A total of 130 drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) patients registered on the Nikshay portal under NTEP were included using total enumeration. Data were collected through household visits using a pre-tested semi-structured questionnaire after obtaining written informed consent. Health system assessment was performed at 1 District Tuberculosis Centre, 2 Community Health Centres, 10 Primary Health Centres, and 18 Ayushman Bharat–Health and Wellness Centres using the Differentiated Tuberculosis Care Guidelines (2021). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Chi-square test, with p < 0.05 considered statistically significant.
Results: Among 130 drug-resistant tuberculosis (DR-TB) patients, the majority were aged 26–45 years (55.4%), male (55.4%), Hindu (76.2%), and belonged to nuclear families (74.6%). Most patients were from the lower middle socioeconomic class (72.3%), indicating a strong socioeconomic gradient in DR-TB distribution. Rifampicin-resistant TB was the predominant subtype, whereas MDR-TB and Pre- XDR-TB were more common among lower socioeconomic groups. Addiction status showed a significant association with resistance patterns (χ², *p* = 0.011), suggesting that both socioeconomic disadvantage and behavioral factors contribute to the burden of drug-resistant tuberculosis.
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.