This study was designed to identify risk factors associated with defaulting during TB treatment and
indicate specific adjustments to be made. This study is a retrospective, cohort study. Information on all
TB patients attending clinic for treatment from 1st April 2004 to 30th June 2007 was collected using a
data collection form. A total sample of 938 patients was reviewed. The overall default rate among the TB
patients was 14.4% and was about half (44.3%) of the entire negative outcome. 743 (79.2%) of cases
were cured or completed treatment and 9 (1.0%) of cases were transferred out. Factors associated with
default were return after default (p = 0.000), presentation with extra-pulmonary TB (p = 0.000) and
defaulting in the first two months of treatment (p = 0.00). There was no statistically significant difference
in the rate of default between HIV positive and HIV negative TB patients (22.8% vs 10.5%, X2 = 0.15, p =
0.699) and distance of domicile from PHC centres (p = 0.91). This study suggest that National TB control
programmes should pay a closer attention to the issue of home visit and monitoring especially among
patients with smear-negative PTB or EPTB and those returning after default in African population