Skip to main content
Home / The International Journal of Tuberculosis and Lung Disease, Volume 26, Number 1

Demographic and socio-economic risk factors associated with self-reported TB

Buy Article:

$34.78 + tax (Refund Policy)

BACKGROUND: The infectiousness of Mycobacterium tuberculosis is known to be shaped by the human environment, with research showing positive associations with poverty, homelessness and overcrowding, among other factors. In this study, the focus is primarily on environmental health risks for TB, particularly on those associated with sociodemographic and household living conditions in South Africa.

METHODS: Data for this study were collected between 2014 and 2019 from a number of sites implementing community-oriented primary care (COPC) in the Gauteng Province of the country. Community health workers (CHWs) used AitaHealthtm, a custom-built mobile information management application, to obtain data on the TB status and environmental conditions of households. Statistical models were used to determine associations between various demographic, socio-economic and environmental risk factors, and TB.

RESULTS: Approximately 12,503 TB cases were reported among 7,769 households. Substance use and male-headed households were found to have significant associations in households with at least one individual with TB. Overcrowding, as well as lack of access to piped water and adequate sanitation were also found to be positively associated with a ‘TB-household.´

CONCLUSION: Improvements in housing and services, particularly the provision of piped water and reticulated flush toilets, are needed to control and prevent TB in South Africa.

Keywords: community oriented primary care; harmful substance use; housing; respiratory disease; risk factors

Document Type: Research Article

Affiliations: 1: Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Johannesburg, South Africa, Environmental Health Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, South Africa 2: Department of Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa 3: Department of Geography, Geoinformatics and Meteorology, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa, Environment and Health Research Unit, South African Medical Research Council, Pretoria, South Africa 4: Department of Family Medicine, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa

Publication date: January 1, 2022

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