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Pulmonary tuberculosis among prisoners in Southern Thailand: prevalence and its association with imprisonment status

Bintinee Bilmumad (Epidemiology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand, and Songkhla Correctional Institution for Drug Addicts, Department of Corrections, Thailand, Mueang, Thailand)
Tippawan Liabsuetrakul (Epidemiology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand)
Nipa Ngamtrairai (Songkhla Central Prison, Department of Corrections, Thailand, Mueang, Thailand)
Virasakdi Chongsuvivatwong (Epidemiology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, Songkhla, Thailand)

International Journal of Prisoner Health

ISSN: 1744-9200

Article publication date: 16 August 2021

Issue publication date: 21 July 2022

75

Abstract

Purpose

This study aims to measure the prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB), its association with imprisonment status and to document the treatment success rate (TSR) among prisoners in Songkhla province, Southern Thailand.

Design/methodology/approach

A retrospective cross-sectional study was conducted in five prisons in Songkhla province, including all prisoners in the fiscal of year 2019, who had an annual chest radiography (CXR) screening result. Information of prisoners who had been imprisoned from 1 October 2018 to 30 September 2019, were reviewed for PTB diagnosis. Imprisonment status and other associated factors with PTB were analyzed using multiple logistic regression.

Findings

The prevalence of PTB was 2.72%. Prisoners having new or transfer-in status were more likely to have PTB. Those aged 40–80 years, who had smoked for ten years or more, or who were underweight, had higher odds of having PTB. TSR among prisoners with PTB in this study was 94.9%.

Originality/value

The prevalence of PTB among prisoners having annual CXR screening was high. Detection of PTB was higher among new or transfer-in prisoners; therefore, the CXR for PTB screening before admission to prison should be performed to prevent transmission to other prisoners.

Keywords

Citation

Bilmumad, B., Liabsuetrakul, T., Ngamtrairai, N. and Chongsuvivatwong, V. (2022), "Pulmonary tuberculosis among prisoners in Southern Thailand: prevalence and its association with imprisonment status", International Journal of Prisoner Health, Vol. 18 No. 3, pp. 233-244. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJPH-01-2021-0012

Publisher

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Emerald Publishing Limited

Copyright © 2021, Emerald Publishing Limited

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