Co-infection with HIV challenges treatment of tuberculosis (TB) and worsens the outcome. This study aimed to assess the outcome of TB treatment and its predictors among HIV infected patients at Mizan-Tepi University Teaching Hospital (MTUTH), Ethiopia.

Medical records of 188 TB/HIV co-infected patients who attended the TB clinic of MTUTH from September 2012 to December 2015 were reviewed from March 14 to April 1, 2016. The primary endpoints of the study were treatment outcome of TB and its predictors. Data were analyzed by Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 21. Multivariable binary logistic regression analysis was carried out to identify predictors of treatment outcome. Statistical significance was considered at p-value <0.05.

The treatment outcomes of TB patients included in this study were 18 (9.57%) cured, 20 (10.64%) defaulted, 24 (12.77%) died, 39 (20.74%) completed the treatment, and 87 (46.28%) transferred out. A successful treatment outcome was achieved in 57 (30.32%) patients. Initial World Health Organization (WHO) clinical stage III (COR: 2.60; 95%CI: 1.17–5.76) and stage IV (COR: 4.00; 95%CI: 1.29–12.40) were associated with unfavorable outcome. Both WHO stages (III, IV) at the time of HIV diagnosis were independent predictors of poor treatment outcome (AOR: 3.08; 95%CI: 1.14–8.38; AOR: 5.80; 95%CI: 1.36–24.71 respectively). However, smear positive TB was an independent predictor of a favorable treatment outcome (AOR: 2.50; 95%CI: 1.13–5.51).

This study revealed that treatment outcome of TB patients was unsatisfactory, which signals a need for improved care. Advanced WHO clinical stages were predictors of poor outcome, while smear positive TB favors good outcome.