OBJECTIVES: To analyse the profile of tuberculosis (TB) among Bolivian immigrants, investigate the impact that this population has on the trends of TB and assess equity in access to TB treatment, in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: Descriptive study of the epidemiological profile of TB in four city districts with large Bolivian populations, comparing cases among Brazilians and Bolivians, during the 1998-2008 period was carried out. We used logistic regression to adjust the treatment outcome for potential confounders. RESULTS: We identified 2056 new TB cases: 65.7% in Brazilians, 32.1% in Bolivians and 2.2% among other nationalities. Although TB incidence remained stable (high) over the study period, the annual proportion of cases among Bolivians increased from 15.0% to 53.0%. In comparison with the Brazilians, the Bolivians were younger (median age, 24 vs. 40 years; P < 0.0001) and presented a lower unemployment rate (3.1%vs. 11.6%; P < 0.0001), a lower rate of HIV co-infection (1.5%vs. 28.5%; P< 0.001), a higher proportion of individuals receiving supervised treatment (81.5%vs. 62.0%; P < 0.0001) and a higher proportion of cures (71.6%vs. 63.2%; P< 0.0001). After having been adjusted for potential confounder, cure after treatment was not associated with nationality. CONCLUSIONS: Bolivian immigrants influenced the incidence but not the trends of TB among Brazilians in the study area. We found no significant differences between Bolivians and Brazilians regarding healthcare access or treatment outcome. Guaranteed universal health care access for all, including undocumented individuals, contributes to health equity. Specific intervention strategies are warranted for immigrants with tuberculosis.
OBJECTIVES: To analyse the profile of tuberculosis (TB) among Bolivian immigrants, investigate the impact that this population has on the trends of TB and assess equity in access to TB treatment, in the city of São Paulo, Brazil. METHODS: Descriptive study of the epidemiological profile of TB in four city districts with large Bolivian populations, comparing cases among Brazilians and Bolivians, during the 1998-2008 period was carried out. We used logistic regression to adjust the treatment outcome for potential confounders. RESULTS: We identified 2056 new TB cases: 65.7% in Brazilians, 32.1% in Bolivians and 2.2% among other nationalities. Although TB incidence remained stable (high) over the study period, the annual proportion of cases among Bolivians increased from 15.0% to 53.0%. In comparison with the Brazilians, the Bolivians were younger (median age, 24 vs. 40 years; P < 0.0001) and presented a lower unemployment rate (3.1%vs. 11.6%; P < 0.0001), a lower rate of HIV co-infection (1.5%vs. 28.5%; P< 0.001), a higher proportion of individuals receiving supervised treatment (81.5%vs. 62.0%; P < 0.0001) and a higher proportion of cures (71.6%vs. 63.2%; P< 0.0001). After having been adjusted for potential confounder, cure after treatment was not associated with nationality. CONCLUSIONS: Bolivian immigrants influenced the incidence but not the trends of TB among Brazilians in the study area. We found no significant differences between Bolivians and Brazilians regarding healthcare access or treatment outcome. Guaranteed universal health care access for all, including undocumented individuals, contributes to health equity. Specific intervention strategies are warranted for immigrants with tuberculosis.
Authors: Julia Moreira Pescarini; Laura Cunha Rodrigues; M Gabriela M Gomes; Eliseu Alves Waldman Journal: Global Health Date: 2017-03-15 Impact factor: 4.185
Authors: Julia Moreira Pescarini; Vera Simonsen; Lucilaine Ferrazoli; Laura C Rodrigues; Rosangela S Oliveira; Eliseu Alves Waldman; Rein Houben Journal: BMC Med Date: 2018-04-30 Impact factor: 8.775
Authors: Mellina Yamamura; Marcelino Santos Neto; Francisco Chiaravalloti Neto; Luiz Henrique Arroyo; Antônio Carlos Vieira Ramos; Ana Angélica Rêgo de Queiroz; Aylana de Souza Belchior; Danielle Talita Dos Santos; Juliane de Almeida Crispim; Ione Carvalho Pinto; Severina Alice da Costa Uchôa; Regina Célia Fiorati; Ricardo Alexandre Arcêncio Journal: Infect Dis Poverty Date: 2017-10-12 Impact factor: 4.520