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Prevalence of tuberculosis respiratory symptoms and associated factors in the indigenous populations of Paraguay (2012)
Aguirre, Sarita; Cuellar, Celia Martínez; Herrero, María Belén; Cortesi, Gustavo Chamorro; Romero, Nilda Gimenez de; Alvarez, Mirian & Braga, Jose Ueleres
Abstract
BACKGROUND The prevalence of respiratory symptoms and confirmed tuberculosis (TB) among indigenous groups in Paraguay
is unknown.
METHODS This study assessed the prevalence of respiratory symptoms, confirmed pulmonary TB, and associated socio-economic
factors among indigenous Paraguayan populations. Indigenous persons residing in selected communities were included in the study.
A total of 24,352 participants were interviewed at home between October and December 2012. Respiratory symptomatic individuals
were defined as those with respiratory symptoms of TB. A hierarchical Poisson regression analysis was performed with four levels:
individual characteristics, living conditions and environmental characteristics, source of food, and type of nutrition.
FINDINGS In this study, 1,383 participants had respiratory symptoms (5.7%), but only 10 had culture-confirmed TB (41/100,000
inhabitants). The small number of cases did not allow evaluation of the risk factors for TB. Age older than 37 years was associated
with a two-fold increased risk of symptoms. Female sex; family history of TB; type of housing; home heating; a lack of hunting,
fishing, or purchasing food; and a lack of vegetable consumption were also associated with the presence of symptoms. A lack of cereal
consumption had a protective effect. Members of the Ayoreo or Manjui ethnic groups had a three-fold increased risk of symptoms.
MAIN CONCLUSION Individual characteristics, dietary habits, and belonging to specific ethnic groups were associated with
respiratory symptoms.
Keywords
pulmonary tuberculosis; population groups; cross-sectional studies; risk factors
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