Determinants of tuberculosis transmission and treatment abandonment in Fortaleza, Brazil.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Tuberculosis (TB) remains a public health problem, despite recent achievements in reducing incidence and mortality rates. In Brazil, these achievements were above the worldwide average, but marked by large regional heterogeneities. In Fortaleza (5th largest city in Brazil), the tuberculosis cure rate has been declining and treatment abandonment has been increasing in the past decade, despite a reduction in incidence and an increase in directly observed therapy (DOT). These trends put efforts to eliminate tuberculosis at risk. We therefore sought to determine social and programmatic determinants of tuberculosis incidence and treatment abandonment in Fortaleza.

Methods

We analyzed sociodemographic and clinical data for all new tuberculosis cases notified in the Noti

SUBMITTER: Harling G 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5445312 | biostudies-literature | 2017 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature