Social determinants of pulmonary tuberculosis in Argentina

Abstract

Background: In Argentina, approximately 9,000 new cases of tuberculosis (TB) are recorded every year, representing an incidence rate of 22 cases per 100,000 inhabitants. There are no reported studies in Argentina examining the factors that influence the unequal distribution of the disease. The aim of the study was to identify the relationship between the distribution of social and economic factors and TB in Argentina between 2008 and 2012. Method: An ecologic study involving 525 departmental jurisdictions was conducted. Simple linear regression analysis was performed, followed by multiple linear regression for each group of determinants. A final model of determinants of TB’s incidence was constructed from a model of multiple linear regression. Results: The following determinants explain 43% of the variability of TB’s incidence rate among different jurisdictions: overcrowding, proportion of households with a sewage network, proportion of examined patients with respiratory symptoms and proportion of patients who discontinued treatment. Discussion: This study makes an important contribution to a better understanding of the factors influencing the TB occurrence in Argentina, which is the result of a multidimensional and complex process. Thesefactors make part of this disease’s social determination. Conclusion: TB incidence is associated with different determinants, from multiple levels. Inequalities in its distribution in Argentina are driven by the unequal distribution of key social determinants.

Determinantes sociales y meta de tuberculosis en los Objetivos de Desarrollo Sostenible en las Américas

“…En el caso de Argentina, se han documentado determinantes que explican 43% de la variabilidad de la tasa de incidencia de TB, como el hacinamiento, la falta de saneamiento básico y la proporción de pacientes que interrumpieron el tratamiento (15). En Colombia, la epidemia de TB se concentra entre las personas privadas de libertad (7,0%) y la población indígena (5,5%), y se registra un aumento de TB en la población procedente del exterior (93% de Venezuela) desde el año 2018 (16).…”

Analyzing Features and Social Determinants of the Incidence of Class A and B Notifiable Infectious Diseases in China From 2004 to 2018

“…We de ned the incidence (per 100 people) of infectious diseases as the number of annual new incident cases divided by the annual population size. Some factors, including social, economic, political, and environmental factors [9], which contribute directly to health and disease, are de ned as social determinants of health [10]. We sorted the factors into four aspects, namely, social factors, economic factors, demographic factors and hygiene factors, in this research.…”

Spatio-temporal variation in tuberculosis incidence and risk factors for the disease in a region of unbalanced socio-economic development

“…Poverty may affect susceptibility to infections and diseases through indirect effects of poor nutrition or depressed immune status [ 10 ]. Based on current evidence, income, education, occupation and population density account for most health inequalities within countries [ 11 – 15 ]. Furthermore, unbalanced regional development, with resulting consequences for socio-economic conditions, plays an important role in the incidence of TB [ 12 ].…”