The association between environmental factors and tuberculosis infection among household contacts.
A cross-sectional study was conducted to determine the association between environmental factors and tuberculosis infection among household contacts aged less than 15 years in Bangkok, Thailand, between May and December 2003. During the study period, 480 household contacts aged under 15 years were identified. The prevalence of tuberculosis infection among household contacts was 47.08% (95% CI = 42.60-51.56). A generalized estimating equation (GEE) indicated that the risk of positive tuberculin skin testing in household contacst was found to increase with household crowding. Children living in a crowded household were five times more likely to have tuberculosis infection (OR = 5.19, 95% CI = 2.65-8.69). The association between environmental factors and tuberculosis infection assists community tuberculosis staff in understanding the risks for tuberculosis infection in the community and planning appropriate preventive actions based on this risk.
Tornee
Songpol
S
Department of Health Education, Faculty of Physical Education, Srinakharinwirot University, Sukhumvit Road, Bangkok 10110, Thailand. songpoltor@yahoo.com
Kaewkungwal
Jaranit
J
Fungladda
Wijitr
W
Silachamroon
Udomsak
U
Akarasewi
Pasakorn
P
Sunakorn
Pramuan
P
D000293:Adolescent; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D016358:Contact Tracing; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003441:Crowding; D005191:Family Characteristics; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007407:Interviews as Topic; D015995:Prevalence; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013785:Thailand / Q000453:epidemiology; D014374:Tuberculin Test; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000635:transmission*