Abstract:
A cross-sectional study, designed for identifying TB prevalence and factors related to developing disease among the HIV negative drug abusers, was conducted at the Drug Addiction Treatment Clinic of Bangkok Metropolitan Administration during 1 December 1999 to 15 February 2000, in 385 non HIV infected, 15 years old and above persons. Collection of information was done by interviewing using questionnaires, sputum microscopic examination and X-ray examination, Data analysis for determining percentage, mean and standard deviation was performed by the SPSS/PC for Windows programme, while testing for relationship of variables i.e. population, drug addiction, disease and related factors was performed by using Chi-square and t-test. Results revealed radiological TB prevalence of 3.4 percent (95 % C1 = 1.59 – 5.21 %) Factors related to developing disease with statistical significance were malnutrition (p-value=0.010) history of suffering from tuberculosis among family members (p-value = 0.013). The other demographic factors, i.e, sex, age, education, occupation, income, history of alcohol drinking, and smoking were not statistically related to developing disease. Drug addiction factors, for example, methods, frequency, and duration of drugs abuse, were not statistically related to developing disease either. The radiological TB prevalence among the drug abusers in this study was higher than 3 times the 1.01 percent radiological TB prevalence rate obtained from the Third National Prevalence Survey in 1991-1992. This reflects the importance of this very high risk group that an extensive spreading of TB among their families and the communities could happen. Surveillance is necessary, and can be comfortably done by the passive case finding for symptomatic drug abusers who routinely visit the clinic everyday. More attention should be paid to this group in planning and policy making.
