Tuberculosis in population deprived of freedom: epidemiological analysis of the Metropolitan Region of Baixada Santista-SP, Brazil

Abstract

Objective: To describe the number of prevalent and incident cases of
pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in the population deprived of freedom
(PDF) in the Metropolitan Region of Baixada Santista (MRBS). Method:
a descriptive study of secondary data was performed, including the PDF
with PTB from prisons of the MRBS, which started specific treatment
between 2009 and 2013. The data source was the case reporting system
(TBWEB) of the Epidemiological Surveillance Center of the Sao Paulo
state. The variables of interest were the socio-demographic characteristics,
current and previous history of tuberculosis, aspects related to treatment,
co-morbidities and patient conditions. The descriptive analysis of the
main features was made by comparing the percentage of collected data.
Results: Of 582 cases included in the study, 64.09% (373/582) were the
age group between 18-29 years old, and 79.21% (461/582) were new cases.
Supervised treatment was carried out in 86.60% (504/582) of cases. Healing
amounted to 83.51% (486/582) and 8.59% (50/582) quit the treatment.
HIV serological testing was performed in 53.61% (312/582), being 7.37%
(23/312) positive. The sputum smear was performed in 95.53% (556/582) of
the studied cases; of 34.19% (199/582) whose sputum samples underwent
to culture, 72.36% (144/199) had positive results, and in 36.81% (53/144)
the susceptibility testing was performed. The average of annual incidence
of PTB in PDF of MRBS corresponded to 1,237.08/100.000 population.
Conclusion: The results reinforce that effective measures are needed for
reducing the risk of transmission, as well as the greater mobilization of
entities responsible for improving the preventive and control measures and
to be satisfactory to this population.