Prevalence of Presumptive Pulmonary Tuberculosis among Residents of Homeless Shelters in Chennai Corporation

Abstract

Background:   The incidence and prevalence of active tuberculosis (TB) among the homeless population in India is virtually unknown. The present study was undertaken to determine the current prevalence of TB in the homeless urban population of Chennai in Tamil Nadu and to evaluate the problems of sociological perspectives among the TB affected homeless people in southern India.

Aim: The main aim of to identify the symptom of Tuberculosis among homeless population, to identify the background characteristics of the homeless population and to estimate the prevalence of chest TB symptoms and explore the risk factors among homeless population with special reference to Tuberculosis

Subject and Methods: Four hundred and eighty four individuals from homeless community age ranging from 14 years and above were recruited in this study. These individuals reside in the night shelters under the Chennai city corporation which includes 15 zones and 3 regions in Chennai City in Tamil Nadu. TB screening was done to all the homeless individuals included in the study by sputum test, a global standard method. TB patients identified and confirmed based on their clinical reports and sociological perspectives related to TB were documented.  Statistical analysis was done to assess the prevalence of TB among the homeless individuals in Chennai City.

Results: 484 homeless individuals were screened for TB. Among the 484 study participants, 6 (1.2%) were positive for sputum test and confirmed TB. The estimated overall prevalence of potential TB among this population was 6 in 484 or 12.39/1000 in Chennai city population.

Conclusions: This study indicates that the prevalence of potential TB was remarkably high in the homeless population of Chennai in South India and sociological perspectives of this population were inter-related with TB. Furthermore the larger study will provide adequate information of this population.