Title: Prevalence and Associated Factors of Typhoid Fever Among Adult Clients Who Visited the Outpatient Department in Burao General Hospital, Somaliland
Authors: Hamse Abdirahman Mohamed
Volume: 10
Issue: 5
Pages: 237-246
Publication Date: 2026/05/28
Abstract:
Salmonella enterica serovar Typhi (S. Typhi) is the causative agent of typhoid fever, an acute systemic febrile illness that remains endemic in many low- and middle-income countries. Globally, an estimated 11-21 million cases and 148,000-161,000 deaths were reported in 2015, underscoring its continued public health burden. The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends prioritizing the introduction of typhoid conjugate vaccines (TCVs) in high-incidence settings to reduce transmission and disease impact. This study aimed to assess the prevalence and associated factors of typhoid fever among adult clients attending the Outpatient Department (OPD) at Burao General Hospital in 2023. A hospital-based cross-sectional study was conducted from May to August 2023. A total of 276 adult participants were selected using systematic random sampling. Data were collected through structured interviewer-administered questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS version 25. Descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and multivariate logistic regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with typhoid fever. The overall prevalence of typhoid fever was 59.9% (151/252 investigated cases). Multivariate analysis revealed that having a business-related income (AOR = 3.069; 95% CI: 1.124-8.382; p = 0.029), storing drinking water in jerry cans (AOR = 1.953; p < 0.001), and living within approximately 30 meters of a latrine to a water source (AOR = 2.135; 95% CI: 1.192-3.822; p = 0.011) were independently associated with increased odds of typhoid fever. In conclusion, typhoid fever prevalence remains high in Burao. Strengthening access to safe water storage practices, improving sanitation infrastructure, and enhancing community-based health education are urgently recommended to reduce disease transmission and its public health impact.