The prevalence of tuberculosis in different economic strata: a community survey from South India.

A cross-sectional socio-economic survey to assess the standard of living index (SLI) of a rural population in South India was undertaken along with a tuberculosis (TB) prevalence survey during 2004-2006. Of 32,780 households, the SLI was low, medium and high in 22%, 36% and 42%, and TB prevalence was 343, 169 and 92 per 100,000 population, respectively, a significant decrease in trend (P < 0.001); 57% of the TB patients had a low SLI and the prevalence of TB was higher amongst the landless (P < 0.001), those living below the poverty line (P < 0.01) and in katcha houses (P < 0.001), suggesting that TB disproportionately affects those with a low SLI.