Abstract
Each year in Saudi Arabia, the Hajj season represents one of the world’s most significant annual mass gatherings, attracting high proportion of immigrants from different parts of the world in small crowded areas, posing a risk for Tuberculosis (TB) transmission. There is a high potential for TB contact and infection in the workplace as it is transmitted through the air. Most of the studies in Saudi Arabia assessed the TB infection among health care workers. However, the TB incidence rate among other variant occupational groups was not yet determined. This study was conducted to assess the incidence rate of tuberculosis, and determine the risk factors of TB infection among different occupational groups in the Makkah region, Saudi Arabia 2016. A cross-sectional study was carried out based on the secondary data of the patients registered in the Saudi national tuberculosis control and prevention program in 2016. Data were then organized and analyzed for age, gender, nationality, educational level, average monthly wage, average weekly working hours, and occupation of the patients. Occupations were reclassified according to the Saudi Standard Classification of Occupation (SSCO). A total of 1270 cases were included in this study, 300 (23.6%) of them were workers. The incidence rate of TB among workers in the Makkah region was 9 per 100,000 workers compared to 31 per 100,000 persons among the general population in 2016. The TB incidence rate was the highest among occupation of supporting basic engineering with 13 per 100,000 workers in 2016. The highest incidence rate of TB among occupations of supporting basic engineering could be attributed to close contact with the general population in closed spaces for long periods of time, and low socioeconomic status.
Highlights
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria and most often affects the lungs and could affect other parts of the body (Extra-pulmonary TB)
The total number of confirmed TB cases registered in the national tuberculosis control and prevention program 2016 in the Makkah region after exclusion criteria were 1270 cases
Regardless of occupational status, the proportion of male cases was greater than females’, which is consistent with the consensus that male gender is a risk factor for TB infection compared with females14
Summary
Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis bacteria and most often affects the lungs (pulmonary TB) and could affect other parts of the body (Extra-pulmonary TB). The risk factors of TB infection include medical and non-medical factors. While the non-medical factors include birth, traveling to a country with a high incidence of TB infection, working at high-risk congregate settings like prisons and shatters, and low socioeconomic status. In the United States of America, the high crystalline silica exposure had significantly increased the risk for pulmonary TB infection along with other lung diseases. The exposure to TB infection increased in healthcare workers, funeral directors, construction occupations, stonemason, carpenters, and mining machine operators because of their occupations. The rates were elevated in inhalation therapists, lower-paid health care workers, funeral directors, and farmworkers. Among immigrant workers in Al Qassim region, Saudi Arabia, females have a higher incidence rate of TB infection. The TB incidence rate was not yet determined among variant occupational groups
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Free) 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a call
