Nutritional deficiency and associated factors among new pulmonary tuberculosis patients of Bale Zone Hospitals, southeast Ethiopia.

Prevalence of nutritional deficiency was 63.2%. The mean Body mass index for all listed participants was 17.86 kg/m2. Employment status of the patients, p-value 0.012 (AOR = 1.82; 95% CI 1.14, 2.89) and Khat chewing, p-value 0.02 (AOR = 0.43; 95% CI 0.23, 0.85) were factors independently associated with nutritional deficiency. Prevalence of nutritional deficiency was found to be high. Nutritional support for the impoverished, regular nutritional assessment and dietary counseling are necessary for better treatment outcome and effective Tuberculosis management programme.