title: [Tuberculosis in Rio de Janeiro prisons, Brazil: an urgent public health problem].
abstract: The tuberculosis incidence rate in prisons in Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil, was 30 times higher in 2004 than in the general population and is probably underestimated, particularly given the difficult access to care in the prison setting. To obtain a better estimate, a survey used systematic X-ray screening and showed a prevalence rate of 4.6% in one such detention facility, A (n = 1,052). Two additional surveys, in facilities B (n = 590) and C (n = 1,372), showed even higher prevalence rates (6.3% and 8.6% respectively). A comparison of socio-demographic characteristics between A, B, and C showed a heterogeneous prison population. As compared to facility A, inmates in B and C come from poorer urban communities and have more frequent histories of incarceration and tuberculosis. These differences, consistent with the prevalence data, imply the necessary adaptation of tuberculosis control programs to each detention facility's epidemiological and socio-demographic profile.
authors.affiliation: Superintendência de Saúde, Secretaria de Administração Penitenciária do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Estrada Guandu do Sena 1902, Rio de Janeiro, RJ 21540-000, Brazil. alexandrarsanchez@gmail.com
authors.forename: Alexandra Roma
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Sánchez
authors.forename: Véronique
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Massari
authors.forename: Germano
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Gerhardt
authors.forename: Angela W
authors.initials: AW
authors.lastname: Barreto
authors.forename: Vanderci
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cesconi
authors.forename: Janete
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pires
authors.forename: Ana Beatriz
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Espínola
authors.forename: Edison
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Biondi
authors.forename: Bernard
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Larouzé
authors.forename: Luiz Antônio Bastos
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Camacho
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001938:Brazil / Q000453:epidemiology; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000097:blood; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011330:Prisons / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011634:Public Health; D011859:Radiography; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000517:prevention & control