title: Infection of the Invisible: Impressions of a Tuberculosis Intervention Program for Migrants in Istanbul.
abstract: This paper reviews the experience of the Istanbul Tuberculosis Aid Program, which targeted tuberculosis (TB) disease in the growing irregular migrant populations of Istanbul. This experience illustrated the importance of community-based public health interventions when dealing with an infectious disease like TB among vulnerable groups. Our data is derived primarily from a qualitative study carried out with program stakeholders. We summarize lessons for success of ITAP as: (1) Strengthening impact and outreach of TB intervention among irregular migrant communities through involvement of multiple stakeholders (2) Increasing TB awareness through a community targeted approach (3) Increasing TB contact tracing and treatment success among infected irregular migrants, and, (4) Improving overall health seeking behavior of irregular migrants through empowerment and trust. Given these particularities we list our policy suggestions for revision of regulations regarding TB control and healthcare needs of irregular migrant populations.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, Acibadem University, Istanbul, Turkey, yesim.yasin@acibadem.edu.tr.
authors.forename: Yesim
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yasin
authors.forename: Kristen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Biehl
authors.forename: Maral
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Erol
mesh_terms: D003140:Communicable Disease Control / Q000458:organization & administration*; D054626:Consumer Health Information; D023801:Directly Observed Therapy; D015438:Health Behavior; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D057226:Information Seeking Behavior; D015980:Public Health Practice; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012111:Residence Characteristics; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D014171:Transients and Migrants; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014421:Turkey