Nursing Nutritional Care in Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis Attended at a Health Center en Trinidad, Beni, Bolivia. A descrptive Study

Cuidados nutricionales de enfermería en pacientes con Tuberculosis Pulmonar atendidos en un centro de salud de Trinidad, Beni, Bolivia. Un estudio descriptivo

Resumen

Objetive. To determine the nursing nutritional care related to pulmonary tuberculosis in patients attended at the Municipal Central Health Center of the city of Trinidad, Beni, Bolivia, considering nutritional status, individual requirements, and dietary intake. Materials and methods. A quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional, and retro-prospective study was conducted. The study population consisted of 15 ambulatory patients diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis, all of them new cases undergoing treatment for drug-susceptible tuberculosis, and one nurse in charge of the tuberculosis program. Data were collected through patient interviews, a questionnaire applied to the nursing staff, and documentary review of clinical records, including anthropometric, biochemical, clinical, and nutritional information. Results. Most patients were young adults and predominantly male. The majority showed an adequate nutritional status, with a higher frequency of normal weight and overweight, and no cases of underweight were identified. Biochemical parameters such as hemoglobin, hematocrit, and blood glucose remained within normal ranges in most patients. A favorable evolution of body mass index during treatment was observed, along with adequate adherence to Directly Observed Treatment, appropriate dietary habits, and a low frequency of gastrointestinal adverse reactions, mainly during the initial months of treatment. Conclusions. Nursing-provided nutritional care, based on comprehensive nutritional assessment, dietary education, and continuous follow-up, significantly contributes to maintaining adequate nutritional status and to favorable clinical outcomes in patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, establishing nutrition-focused nursing care as an essential component of comprehensive tuberculosis management.