Prevalence, risk factors and social context of active pulmonary tuberculosis among prison inmates in Tajikistan.
METHODS
Tuberculosis (TB) is highly prevalent in prisons of the former Soviet Union.


OBJECTIVE
To understand the behavioral, demographic and biological factors placing inmates in Tajikistan at risk for active TB.


METHODS
We administered a behavioral and demographic survey to 1317 inmates in two prison facilities in Sughd province, Tajikistan along with radiographic screening for pulmonary TB. Suspected cases were confirmed bacteriologically. Inmates undergoing TB treatment were also surveyed. In-depth interviews were conducted with former prisoners to elicit relevant social and behavioral characteristics.


RESULTS
We identified 59 cases of active pulmonary TB (prevalence 4.5%). Factors independently associated with increased prevalence of active TB were: HIV-infection by self-report (PR 7.88; 95%CI 3.40-18.28), history of previous TB (PR 10.21; 95%CI 6.27-16.63) and infrequent supplemental nutrition beyond scheduled meals (PR 3.00; 95%CI 1.67-5.62). Access to supplemental nutrition was associated with frequency of visits from friends and family and ability to rely on other inmates for help.


CONCLUSIONS
In prison facilities of Tajikistan, HIV-infection, injection drug use and low access to supplemental nutrition were associated with prevalent cases of active pulmonary TB. Policies that reduce HIV transmission among injection drug users and improve the nutritional status of socially isolated inmates may alleviate the TB burden in Tajikistan's prisons.
Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, United States of America.
Daniel E
DE
Winetsky
Department of Programs, AIDS Foundation East-West, Dushanbe, Republic of Tajikistan.
Olga
O
Almukhamedov
Department of Programs, AIDS Foundation East-West, Dushanbe, Republic of Tajikistan.
Dilshod
D
Pulatov
Department of Programs, AIDS Foundation East-West, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan.
Natalia
N
Vezhnina
Department of Monitoring and Evaluation, AIDS Foundation East-West, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan.
Aizhan
A
Dooronbekova
Department of Monitoring and Evaluation, AIDS Foundation East-West, Almaty, Republic of Kazakhstan.
Baurzhan
B
Zhussupov
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003710:Demography; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D044342:Malnutrition / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D015995:Prevalence; D011329:Prisoners / Q000523:psychology; D012307:Risk Factors; D012931:Social Environment; D015819:Substance Abuse, Intravenous / Q000150:complications; D013620:Tajikistan / Q000453:epidemiology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult