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Feb 27, 2014Article Details
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Main Article Content
Tuberculosis incidence in Cameroonian prisons: A 1-year prospective study
Abstract
Objectives. To assess the persisting risk of smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) among prison populations benefiting from a comprehensive TB/HIV control programme in Cameroon, compared with that in the community.
Methods. This descriptive and prospective study evaluated PTB incidence rates over a 1-year period. The study population was inmates of 10 major prisons, sampled by convenience, comprising about 45% of the country’s prison population. As PTB incident cases, all prisoners with incident PTB after a prison stay of ≥90 days were considered. The prison TB incidence rate was compared with that of the corresponding male population in the community.
Results. The mean annual PTB incidence in Cameroonian prisons in this study was 1 700 cases in 100 000 person-years at risk, the incidence rate ratio being 9.4 (95% confidence interval 8.1 - 10.9).
Conclusion. Findings suggest that internationally recommended prison TB control measures alone may not help protect prisoners from within-prison spread of TB. Imprisonment policies and conditions therefore require fundamental changes.
