Tuberculosis among the poor

Several studies have been conducted to investigate the effectiveness of tuberculosis (TB) control programs among the poor. These include 1) Research on TB among the poor and 2) A survey regarding the use of group facilities among the homeless. 1) Research on TB among the poor -In 2006- Among the homeless or the person in the similar conditions (the poor), 39% had a TB screening with chest x-ray examination. The smear-positive rate among the pulmonary TB (PTB) patients who were discovered by TB screening (20%) was substantially lower than that among the patients who were discovered by means other than the TB screening (63%). -In 2007- The proportion of individuals who had the TB screening among the poor was only 30% despite the program to increase the number of individuals having a screening. 2) A survey regarding the use of group facilities among the homeless Approximately 20% of smear-positive cases who had a cough stayed in a shelter the night before the diagnosis of PTB. These results showed that routine TB screenings are necessary as part of a TB control program among the poor. In particular, TB screenings for those using shelters are urgent and very important.