Background: According WHO, countries need to move faster to prevent, detect, and treat tuberculosis (TB) to meet global targets. TB remains closely associated with most vulnerable and marginalized populations. There is lack of studies of TB among internally displaced people (IDPs), even more in Latin America and Colombia, the country globally with the highest number of IDPs. Methods & Materials: This ecological study assessed incidence and differences of TB between general population and IDPs in Colombia and its departments (32), 2009–2016. Epidemiological data were collected from a major health information system (RIPS-SISPRO), retrieving the ICD-10 codes (A15.0-A19.9) for TB in both populations. We estimated TB incidence rates on both populations (cases/100,000 pop), using reference population for IDPs (official record of the Secretary of Social Welfare) and general population (from the national statistics institute, DANE). Incidence rates ratios were calculated comparing them. Results: In general population, 126,521 TB cases occurred (26% pulmonary with +sputum smear microscopy)(273.1 cases/100,000 pop; 95%CI 272.0–275.0) while 5,917 among IDPs (27.7% respiratory tuberculosis[unspecified], confirmed bacteriologically/histologically [A15.9]) (2,181.5 cases/100,000 pop; 95%CI 2,126.0–2,237.0). TB was 8.0 times higher among IDPs than in general population (p < 0.05) (reaching up to 15.41 times higher, 2014). For A15.9 ratio was 16.1, followed by A15.4 (TB of intrathoracic lymph nodes, confirmed bacteriologically/histologically) with 12.4 and A15.5 (TB of larynx, trachea, and bronchus, confirmed bacteriologically/histologically) with 6.9 times higher among IDPs. There was a considerable geographical variation among rates ratios; highest at Magdalena department, 27.13, followed by Casanare, 29.98, Cundinamarca, 22.08, Caldas, 19.14 and Atlantico, 16.63. Conclusion: This study evidenced a significantly higher TB incidence among IDPs, when compared with general population. WHO suggest considering as main priorities protecting those who are financially vulnerable to TB expanding social and health insurance coverage, preventing TB among those who do not yet have it, and reducing the percentage of TB patients and their households facing catastrophic costs because of TB to zero. Now, in the post-conflict era of Colombia, this highlights these needs for IDPs.
Tópico:
Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology
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6
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0
Información de la Fuente:
FuenteInternational Journal of Infectious Diseases