Abstract
BackgroundTuberculosis (TB) is a major human threat, as evidenced by the large numbers of cases and deaths, particularly in developing countries with poor economic and educational statuses. Myanmar has one of the highest TB burdens in the world, but no TB information is available for people living in the rural northeastern regions of Myanmar. The present study estimated the prevalence of TB and identified factors associated with TB infection in people living in rural communities in Shan State.MethodsA cross-sectional study was performed to gather information from participants. People aged 18–59 years who lived in the three areas with the highest numbers of TB cases in Shan State in northeastern Myanmar were included in the study population. A simple random method was used to select the sample from the villages. A validated questionnaire was used for data collection in face-to-face interviews after obtaining signed informed consent from the selected participants. The Mantoux tuberculin skin test (TST) was administered to detect TB infection, and a result that was 10 mm or greater after 48 h was considered positive. Chi-squared tests and logistic regression were used to identify the associations between the variables at a significance level of α = 0.05.ResultsA total of 303 participants were recruited for the study; 64.7% were females, and the mean age was 37 years (SD = 12.5). Most participants were Burmese (25.4%), and 14.95% were Shan. Sixty-three participants (20.8%) had a positive TST. Four variables were associated with TB infection in the multivariate model. Males had a greater chance of TB infection than females (AOR = 2.51; 95% CI = 1.32–4.76). Participants who were ever married had a greater chance of TB infection than participants who were single (AOR = 3.93; 95% CI = 1.18–13.00). Participants who used wood and charcoal as their main sources of energy for cooking had a greater chance of TB infection than participants who used electricity (AOR = 4.23; 95% CI = 1.25–9.64). Participants who had a low level of TB prevention and care knowledge had a greater chance of TB infection than participants with a high level of TB prevention and care knowledge (AOR = 4.49; 95% CI = 1.88–10.72).ConclusionsPublic health programs that focus on improving knowledge of TB prevention and care and avoiding the use of wood and charcoal as the primary sources of energy for cooking, particularly in males and ever-married individuals, are urgently needed.
Highlights
Tuberculosis (TB) is a major human threat, as evidenced by the large numbers of cases and deaths, in developing countries with poor economic and educational statuses
56.1% had a history of receiving the Bacillus Calmette-Guérin (BCG) vaccination, 38.3% had at least one family member who had been infected with TB in the past, and most had received treatment and care at a government hospital
Males had a greater chance of TB infection than females (AOR = 2.51; 95% Confidence interval (CI) = 1.32–4.76)
Summary
Tuberculosis (TB) is a major human threat, as evidenced by the large numbers of cases and deaths, in developing countries with poor economic and educational statuses. Shan is a Myanmar state with a relatively large population of minority groups, who account for 10.0% of the Myanmar population and live in the northern region, especially along the border of northern Thailand [13] These groups live in poor economic and educational conditions, and there is civil conflict between the central Myanmar government and the minority populations in the northern region of Myanmar. Myanmar was ranked as one of the 20 countries with the highest TB burdens in the world with a total TB incidence of 181,000 (119,000-256, 000) cases (338/100,000 population) [14], which indicates that these groups of people are obviously vulnerable to TB infection
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