Results of Pulmonary Tuberculosis Screening among Inmates in One Closed Prison, Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province, 2021-2023

Abstract

Objectives: This cross-sectional tuberculosis screening study aims to calculate the detection rate and identify risk factors for new tuberculosis cases. In a closed prison in Phra Nakhon Si Ayutthaya Province between 2021 - 2023, there were 1,240, 1,358 and 1,365 people, respectively. Methods: Chest radiographs were used for all prisoners and sputum samples were tested using Xpert MTB/RIF in cases with abnormal chest radiographs were consistent with tuberculosis. General data were analyzed using descriptive statistics. Risk factors associated with tuberculosis were analyzed by logistic regression analysis with Chi square statistics, Odd ratios and estimation of 95% confidence intervals. Results:  showed that they were all male 49.8% were in the age group of 20-39 years, 50.8% had a period of imprisonment between 5-10 years, 3.3% had family members who had been sick with tuberculosis, 5.5% had been sick with tuberculosis before, 10.3% had congenital diseases and 51.6% had ever smoked. Annual chest radiograph screening found abnormalities compatible with tuberculosis in 7.0%, 3.5%, and 8.4%, respectively. Screening found 20.7%, 2.1%, and 14.9% of new tuberculosis patients, respectively, and found 923 new tuberculosis cases per 100,000 people. The risk factors are Someone in the family has been sick with tuberculosis. Have a history of smoking, are less than 40 years old, and have been incarcerated for more than 10 years. Therefore, prisoners should be continually screened for tuberculosis, especially those with risk factors.