title: Historical research into tuberculosis control strategies and the implications of mortality trends in Taiwan.
abstract: METHODS
  Taiwan.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To analyse mortality trends to determine whether government organisation structuring and activities of disease control programmes affect outcomes.
  
  
  METHODS
  We conducted a Joinpoint regression analysis to identify changes in TB mortality trends from 1971 to 2008 in Taiwan. The annual percentage change (APC) was calculated for the time segments on either side of the Joinpoints. Mortality data were extracted from the cause-of-death registry database of the Taiwanese Department of Health.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Between 1971 and 1987, the TB mortality rate dropped from 51 per 100 000 population to 13.4/100 000; during the period 1987-2000, it dropped from 13.4 to 7/100 000, with a lower APC; and from 2000 to 2008, it fell more rapidly, from 7 to 2.2/100 000, than during the previous two stages. These turning points are associated with organisational structure changes from the Joinpoint regression analysis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We found that organisational structure and availability of resources play an important role in TB control. We recommend that other countries consider these vital factors to enhance the effectiveness of their TB control programmes.
authors: Department of Healthcare Administration, College of Health Science, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan. chiou@asia.edu.tw
authors: S-J
authors: SJ
authors: Chiou
authors: Y-T
authors: YT
authors: Huang
authors: J-J
authors: JJ
authors: Lee
authors: S-I
authors: SI
authors: Wang
authors: C-L
authors: CL
authors: Yaung
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000266:history* / Q000458:organization & administration; D005260:Female; D033161:Government Regulation / Q000266:history; D006291:Health Policy / Q000266:history*; D006295:Health Resources / Q000266:history* / Q000458:organization & administration; D049673:History, 20th Century; D049674:History, 21st Century; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009026:Mortality / Q000639:trends; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000266:history*; D016134:Organizational Policy; D012042:Registries; D012044:Regression Analysis; D013624:Taiwan / Q000453:epidemiology; D013997:Time Factors; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000266:history / Q000401:mortality* / Q000517:prevention & control*