Prevalence of tuberculosis infection among pregnant women coming to the OPD of the gynecology department

Tuberculosis is most common during a woman’s generative years and is a chief cause of maternal–child mortality. Tuberculosis (TB) remains a fundamental infection in women globally. Therefore the screening of the pregnant women should be done. The present study was planned to study the prevalence of tuberculosis infection among pregnant women. The study was done in the gynecology department among the pregnant women coming to the OPD. The study was done over a period of one year. The patients initially undergo a standardized structured symptom and sign screen and only the patients having positive signs and symptoms were undergone the screening tests. A total of 233 pregnant patients have been visited to the OPD of the gynecology department. Out of these, 9 pregnant women were found to be positive for the pulmonary tuberculosis. Among these 9 females, 4 were found to be HIV positive. It is important to make an early diagnosis of tuberculosis infection and disease in a pregnant woman. If tuberculosis is diagnosed and treated appropriately, the prognosis for both mother and child can be improved.