The Incidence of Tuberculosis Among North Carolina Migrant Farmworkers
Author: Ciesielski, Stephen; Esposito, Douglas
Date Published: 1991
Study that covers the incidence of primary infection and active tuberculosis among a group of farmworkers for whom the prevalence had previously been established. All locatable subjects from a previous random sample of farmworkers were tested with PPD, Mumps, and Candida antigen and completed verbal questionnaires. Subjects with positive PPd's provided sputum samples and received chest x-rays. 94 of 543 previous subjects were relocated. 48 were PPD positive on previous testing and were not further evaluated. Of the 46 who were PPD negative three years earlier, 2 had developed active TB in the interim and 30% were PPD positive. All had been engaged continuously in migrant farm work. Lack of access to health was significantly associated with primary infection. Active transmission of tuberculosis continues among migrant farmworkers at extremely high levels. Institutional features of migrant farm work, such as lack of access to health care, contribute significantly to this problem.
Date Published: 1991
Study that covers the incidence of primary infection and active tuberculosis among a group of farmworkers for whom the prevalence had previously been established. All locatable subjects from a previous random sample of farmworkers were tested with PPD, Mumps, and Candida antigen and completed verbal questionnaires. Subjects with positive PPd's provided sputum samples and received chest x-rays. 94 of 543 previous subjects were relocated. 48 were PPD positive on previous testing and were not further evaluated. Of the 46 who were PPD negative three years earlier, 2 had developed active TB in the interim and 30% were PPD positive. All had been engaged continuously in migrant farm work. Lack of access to health was significantly associated with primary infection. Active transmission of tuberculosis continues among migrant farmworkers at extremely high levels. Institutional features of migrant farm work, such as lack of access to health care, contribute significantly to this problem.
