Rethinking the socioeconomics and geography of tuberculosis among foreign-born residents of New Jersey, 1994-1999.
OBJECTIVE
This study investigated the socioeconomic profile of foreign-born tuberculosis patients in New Jersey.


METHODS
Foreign- and US-born tuberculosis patients in 1994-1999 were compared using various measures of socioeconomic status.


RESULTS
Out of 4295 tuberculosis patients, 2005 (47%) were foreign-born. Foreign-born patients resided in more affluent, more educated, and less crowded areas than did US-born patients (P <.005). They were also more likely to have been employed during the 2 years before diagnosis (62% vs 41%, P <.001). Private physicians treated the majority of South Asian-born patients.


CONCLUSIONS
Substantial numbers of employed foreign-born tuberculosis patients now reside in affluent New Jersey locations. Changes in tuberculosis control programs may be required when the socioeconomic status and place of residence of foreign-born populations diverge from traditional assumptions linking poverty with tuberculosis.
Davidow
Amy L
AL
New Jersey Medical School National Tuberculosis Center, Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, University of Medicine and Dentistry, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, USA. davidoal@umdnj.edu
Mangura
Bonita T
BT
Napolitano
Eileen C
EC
Reichman
Lee B
LB
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001213:Asian; D002648:Child; D003441:Crowding; D004522:Educational Status; D004641:Emigration and Immigration / Q000145:classification / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004651:Employment / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D005191:Family Characteristics / Q000208:ethnology; D005843:Geography; D014943:Global Health; D006630:Hispanic or Latino; D006801:Humans; D007182:Income / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008875:Middle Aged; D009515:New Jersey / Q000453:epidemiology; D011331:Private Practice / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015980:Public Health Practice; D012923:Social Class; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000191:economics / Q000208:ethnology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014481:United States / Q000453:epidemiology