Psychosocial Determinants of Tuberculosis Treatment Outcomes Among Adult Patients in Gombe State

Background: Psychosocial factors including depression, stigma, and poor social support are known to influence tuberculosis treatment outcomes, yet their relative contribution in the North East geopolitical zone of Nigeria has not been empirically quantified. This study investigates psychosocial determinants of tuberculosis treatment outcomes among adult patients in Gombe State. Methods: A prospective cohort of 220 newly diagnosed adult tuberculosis patients was followed from treatment initiation to outcome determination at six months. Baseline psychosocial assessments using validated instruments measured depression, perceived stigma, and social support. Logistic regression identified independent predictors of treatment success versus failure or default. Results: Treatment success rates were suboptimal. Depression at baseline and high perceived stigma were the strongest independent predictors of treatment failure and default. Patients with strong family support systems demonstrated significantly higher treatment success rates. Food insecurity was also independently associated with poor outcomes. Conclusion: Psychosocial factors are critical determinants of tuberculosis treatment success in Gombe State. Family medicine practitioners should routinely screen for depression and social support deficits at tuberculosis programme enrolment, and psychosocial support services should be integrated into the directly observed treatment short-course framework. Keywords: tuberculosis, treatment outcomes, psychosocial determinants, Gombe State, stigma