Incidence and Mortality of Tuberculosis in the Darfur Region, Sudan: A Retrospective Analysis of Trends and Regional Variations

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a public health crisis and health burden worldwide, with associated factors contributing to the spread of the disease. The aim of this study was to estimate the incidence and fatality rate of TB in the Darfur region of Sudan. Methods: A descriptive retrospective observational study explored the incidence and case fatality rate of TB in the Darfur region, between 2011 and 2020. The data were obtained from Sudanese’s national health disease surveillance statistical book. Results: The population shows that the number of males was higher than that of females in the Darfur region over the past 10 years. A total of 1615 cases of TB and 164 deaths were recorded from 2011-2020. The average annual incidence was 2.16 cases/100,000 population; incidence increased sharply from 2.26 cases/100,000 population in 2013 to 5.08 100,000 population in 2018. The significant increase in incidence rates for East Darfur (9.34), Central Darfur (5.36), and South Darfur (6.07) indicates a potential public health crisis or outbreak during that year. Moreover, a total of (164) mortality cases were reported in East Darfur (10), followed by Central Darfur (13) cases, West Darfur (20) cases, South Darfur (43) cases, and North Darfur (78) TB cases, respectively. East Darfur had the highest fatality rate; other regions showed lower rates, with Central Darfur having the least impact in terms of fatalities over the years. TB incidence rate and fatality were high in North Darfur, followed by the South Darfur region. The changing epidemiology of TB cases and death is a hot issue that warrants enhanced disease control and prevention programs in these two regions. North and South Darfur face more persistent or fluctuating health challenges, with a high-density number of publications. Keywords: Tuberculosis, Darfur region, incidence, fatality paragraph of about 200 words maximum. For research articles, abstracts should give a pertinent overview of the work. We strongly encourage authors to use the following style of structured abstracts, but without headings: (1) Background: Place the question addressed in a broad context and highlight the purpose of the study; (2) Methods: Describe briefly the main methods or treatments applied; (3) Results: Summarize the article's main findings; and (4) Conclusions: Indicate the main conclusions or interpretations. The abstract should be an objective representation of the article, it must not contain results which are not presented and substantiated in the main text and should not exaggerate the main conclusions.