Skip to main content
Home / The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Volume 7, Number 3

Tuberculosis transmission patterns in a high-incidence area: a spatial analysis

Buy Article:

$34.78 + tax (Refund Policy)

SETTING: In the Cape Town suburbs of Ravensmead and Uitsig, tuberculosis has reached epidemic levels, with notifications of 1340/100000 in 1996. These suburbs are characterised by overcrowding, high unemployment and poverty. It is traditionally believed that tuberculosis transmission takes place mainly in households after close contact with an infectious person. Studies have recently linked tuberculosis transmission to locations outside the household, and have associated these places with a particular high-risk lifestyle. Anthropological studies in some suburbs of Cape Town, in which a very high number of local drinking places (shebeens) were identified (17 per km2), have suggested that social drinking is part of such a lifestyle.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate various risk factors and places of transmission of tuberculosis using a geographical information system (GIS).

RESULTS AND CONCLUSION: The 1128 bacteriologically-proven cases of tuberculosis studied over the period 1993–1998 were investigated using spatial epidemiological techniques of exploratory disease mapping. Point pattern analysis and spatial statistics indicated clustering of cases in the areas of high incidence. Significant associations of tuberculosis notifications were found with unemployment, overcrowding and number of shebeens per enumerator sub-district. High tuberculosis notifications with unemployment and its associated poverty emerged as the strongest association.

Keywords: alcohol; high incidence; shebeens; spatial analysis; tuberculosis

Document Type: Regular Paper

Affiliations: 1: Department of Paediatrics and Child Health, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, Western Cape, South Africa 2: Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Stellenbosch, Tygerberg, Western Cape, South Africa 3: International Union Against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Paris, France

Publication date: 01 March 2003

More about this publication?

  • The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease (IJTLD) is for clinical research and epidemiological studies on lung health, including articles on TB, TB-HIV and respiratory diseases such as COVID-19, asthma, COPD, child lung health and the hazards of tobacco and air pollution. Individuals and institutes can subscribe to the IJTLD online or in print – simply email us at [email protected] for details.

    The IJTLD is dedicated to understanding lung disease and to the dissemination of knowledge leading to better lung health. To allow us to share scientific research as rapidly as possible, the IJTLD is fast-tracking the publication of certain articles as preprints prior to their publication. Read fast-track articles.

  • Editorial Board
  • Information for Authors
  • Subscribe to this Title
  • International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
  • Public Health Action
  • Ingenta Connect is not responsible for the content or availability of external websites

Share Content

  • Access Key
  • Free content
  • Partial Free content
  • New content
  • Open access content
  • Partial Open access content
  • Subscribed content
  • Partial Subscribed content
  • Free trial content