OBJECTIVE: To explore whether lower tuberculosis notification rates among women are due to a reduced access to health care, particularly diagnostic services, for women. METHODS: Age- and sex-specific tuberculosis prevalence rates of smear-positive tuberculosis were obtained from tuberculosis prevalence surveys reported to the WHO or published in the literature. Age- and sex-specific notification rates from the same countries in 1996 were used. RESULTS: Prevalence data and notifications from 29 surveys in 14 countries were used. Notification rates varied strongly among countries, but the female/male ratio was below 1 and decreased with increasing age in almost all. The female/male (F/M) prevalence ratios were less than 0.5 in surveys in the South-East Asia and Western Pacific Region, and approximately 1 in the African Region. CONCLUSION: In most countries the F/M sex ratio in prevalent cases was similar or lower than that in notified cases, suggesting that F/M differences in notification rates may be largely due to epidemiological differences and not to differential access to health care. However, available data are limited as the prevalence surveys in Africa were carried out many years ago, and in Asia notification rates may be distorted by a large private sector with deficiencies in notification.
OBJECTIVE: To explore whether lower tuberculosis notification rates among women are due to a reduced access to health care, particularly diagnostic services, for women. METHODS: Age- and sex-specific tuberculosis prevalence rates of smear-positive tuberculosis were obtained from tuberculosis prevalence surveys reported to the WHO or published in the literature. Age- and sex-specific notification rates from the same countries in 1996 were used. RESULTS: Prevalence data and notifications from 29 surveys in 14 countries were used. Notification rates varied strongly among countries, but the female/male ratio was below 1 and decreased with increasing age in almost all. The female/male (F/M) prevalence ratios were less than 0.5 in surveys in the South-East Asia and Western Pacific Region, and approximately 1 in the African Region. CONCLUSION: In most countries the F/M sex ratio in prevalent cases was similar or lower than that in notified cases, suggesting that F/M differences in notification rates may be largely due to epidemiological differences and not to differential access to health care. However, available data are limited as the prevalence surveys in Africa were carried out many years ago, and in Asia notification rates may be distorted by a large private sector with deficiencies in notification.
Authors: A I Christopoulos; A A Diamantopoulos; P A Dimopoulos; D S Goumenos; G A Barbalias Journal: Int Urol Nephrol Date: 2008-10-24 Impact factor: 2.370
Authors: Webster Mavhu; Ethel Dauya; Tsitsi Bandason; Shungu Munyati; Frances M Cowan; Graham Hart; Elizabeth L Corbett; Jeremiah Chikovore Journal: Trop Med Int Health Date: 2010-03-08 Impact factor: 2.622
Authors: Andrew J Codlin; Saira Khowaja; Zhongxue Chen; Mohammad H Rahbar; Ejaz Qadeer; Ismat Ara; Joseph B McCormick; Susan P Fisher-Hoch; Aamir J Khan Journal: Am J Trop Med Hyg Date: 2011-09 Impact factor: 2.345
Authors: M Armstrong-Hough; J Ggita; P Turimumahoro; A J Meyer; E Ochom; D Dowdy; A Cattamanchi; A Katamba; J L Davis Journal: Int J Tuberc Lung Dis Date: 2018-10-01 Impact factor: 2.373
Authors: C R Miller; J L Davis; A Katamba; A Sserwanga; S Kakeeto; F Kizito; A Cattamanchi Journal: Int J Tuberc Lung Dis Date: 2013-04 Impact factor: 2.373
Authors: Elizabeth L Corbett; Tsitsi Bandason; Trinh Duong; Ethel Dauya; Beauty Makamure; Gavin J Churchyard; Brian G Williams; Shungu S Munyati; Anthony E Butterworth; Peter R Mason; Stanley Mungofa; Richard J Hayes Journal: Lancet Date: 2010-10-09 Impact factor: 79.321