Pulmonary tuberculosis in the central prison of Douala, Cameroon

Abstract

Objective: To determine the prevalence of and factors associated with pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) in an urban prison in sub-Saharan Africa. Design: A cross-sectional survey. Setting: The Central Prison of Douala, Cameroon. Results: Two thousand four hundred and seventy four (87.4%) out of 2830 inmates underwent screening. Twenty seven (1.1%) of the inmates were under treatment for smear-positive PTB on commencement of the survey while 60 (2.4%) were diagnosed with smear and/or culture-positive PTB during the active case finding, resulting in a point prevalence of PTB of 3.5%. HIV seroprevalence in inmates without clinical signs of PTB was 111/1067 (10.4%) while it amounted to 6/24 (25%) in PTB patients. In multiple stepwise regression analysis, a low BMl, a prison stay of ≤12 months, and a history of previous incarceration were positively associated with PTB. Conclusion: The study results confirm the high prevalence rates of PTB in prison populations and underscore the need for urgent preventive measures.

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“…In the study area, women are less exposed because they go out less frequently due to cultural norms. The high incidence of TB amongst the youthful urban population in the present study (15-44 years) is in line with studies by AneAnyangwe et al, (2006) who recorded more TB cases in the age group 21-30 years, closely followed by the age group 31-40 years in the Southwest Region as well as that of Noeske et al, (2006) amongst the 15-54 age group as a result of the advent of HIV/AIDS dominant among this age group in the country. The Core Group (2013) postulates that the high incidence of TB amongst the youthful population decrease their ability to contribute to socio-economic development and support their families.…”

“…The study reveals high TB case findings in males compared with females in the study area in affirmation with works by Ane-Anyangwe et al, (2006) and Noeske et al, (2006). Other studies however contrast this point of view.…”

“…The over 400,000 inhabitant of Maroua today is a propelling factor for the disease as a result of overcrowding and congestion, high level of promiscuity, sub-standard housing development, unemployment, poverty and lack of health infrastructures that characterize the area as is the case in CDC camps in the South West Region where plantation workers reside (Kamuolratanakul et al, 1999in Ane-Anyangwe et al, 2006. Malnutrition results to TB from a bi-directional linkage (Chandra, 1991;Macallan, 1999 all cited in Noeske et al, 2006). Cegielski and Murray (2004) and Connolly et al, (2004) all in Noeske et al, (2006) however argues that the correlation between malnutrition and TB is weak and their biological link is not well known.…”

“…Malnutrition results to TB from a bi-directional linkage (Chandra, 1991;Macallan, 1999 all cited in Noeske et al, 2006). Cegielski and Murray (2004) and Connolly et al, (2004) all in Noeske et al, (2006) however argues that the correlation between malnutrition and TB is weak and their biological link is not well known.…”

“…This far, the bulk of publications on TB in the country focuses on population dynamics of Tuberculous bacilli (Koro Koro et al, 2012) and TB control (Keugoung et al, 2013). Others include non-conversion of sputum smears in new smear positive Pulmonary Tubercolosis (PTB) patients (Kuban et al, 2009;pefura-Yone et al, 2014;Noeske et al, 2004), PTB in prisons (Noeske et al, 2006;, and prevalence of Bovine TB (BTB) in abbatoirs (Awah-Ndukum et al, 2010;. Also, seasonal variation and prevalence of TB (Ane-Anyangwe et al, 2006), genetic biodiversity of Mycobacterium tuberculosis TB complex strains from patients with PTB (Niobe-Eyangoh et al, 2003;Brudey et al, 2006), and parameter estimation based synchronization (Bowong and Kurths, 2010) have also been treated.…”