title: Incidence of smear-positive tuberculosis in Dabat, northern Ethiopia.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the incidence of smear-positive tuberculosis (TB) in Dabat District, northern Ethiopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  Using a population-based longitudinal design, a TB surveillance system was initiated among 46,165 residents at the Dabat Health and Demographic Surveillance System site. Trained field workers visited each household every third month and interviewed all individuals aged ≥14 years using a uniform questionnaire to detect suspected cases of TB (cough ≥15 days), at which time two sputum (spot-morning) samples were collected for smear microscopy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 281,820 person-months were observed during the 1-year period, which generated 74 smear-positive TB cases. The incidence of smear-positive TB was calculated at 311 per 100,000 person-years (95%CI 240-382). Higher rates were observed among females (incidence rate ratio [IRR] 2.08, 95%CI 1.24-3.52), persons with no schooling (IRR 2.74, 95%CI 1.11-6.78) and urban residents (IRR 2.39, 95%CI 1.39-4.12).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The incidence of smear-positive TB is high in Dabat District, suggesting a high risk of transmission in the communities. TB control programmes thus need to improve case-finding mechanisms at the community level in Ethiopia, with greater emphasis on risk groups.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Public Health, University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia. takele_tadesse@yahoo.com
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tadesse
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Demissie
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Berhane
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Kebede
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Abebe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D004522:Educational Status; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008853:Microscopy; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009169:Mycobacterium tuberculosis / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D013183:Sputum / Q000382:microbiology*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000382:microbiology / Q000635:transmission; D014504:Urban Health; D055815:Young Adult