Magister Scientiae (Medical Bioscience) - MSc(MBS) / The aim of this study was to determine and evaluate the prevalence of TB infection, active TB cases and the risk factors associated with TB infection in Macassar Camp in Macassar (about 40 km from Cape Town on the False Bay coast, with a population of 369). The study design of this epidemiological study was a cross sectional study with a descriptive and an analytic component A comparison between the Mantoux, TB ELISA and X-ray screening tests was performed first. A description of the origin, discovery, characteristics and pathology associated with Mycobacterium tuberculosis as well as the development of the TB epidemic on a global, national and local level, is given. TB was first described to give a South African perspective of the TB epidemic and both the "Virgin Soil" and "Non-Virgin Soil" theory of TB was reviewed. Secondly, ~he TB infection rate in Macassar Camp and the risk factors as well as the determinants of TB infection with regards to overcrowding, ventilation, primary food subsistence level rating (PFSL), social class and employment status were evaluated The third aspect of the study compares prevalence/incidence rates of TB to clinical diagnosis with regards to the symptomatology, radiographs, sputum microscopy, bacteriology and Mantoux test. Lastly the Mantoux test was compared with the TB ELISA test with regards to diagnosis of infection, in new and past confirmed TB cases. The first part of the survey involved the measurement of openable window area and the floor area of each Camp dwelling (to determine if ventilation was within required limits), during the administration of a household questionnaire which was designed to determine the number of occupants, rooms, income, food expenditure per household in the Camp. A personal questionnaire was administered to all Macassar Camp residents to elicit information on demography, knowledge and attitudes to TB, history of past TB, TB contacts, alcohol intake and smoking habits, occupation and BCG status. The Mantoux test were performed on consenting Camp residents in addition to the collection of 5 ml of blood for the TB ELISA tests. The Camp residents heights and weights were recorded prior to the miniature mass chest radiographs being taken. The 'TB suspects' sputa were collected for the microscopy and bacteriological examination. A review of the clinical records of TB patients in the Macassar/Stellenbosch area was also undertaken. The response rate to the household questionnaire was 60 from 63 (95,2%) dwelling units. Whereas the response rate to the personal questionnaire was 296 (80,2%). As for the Mantoux and TB ELISA tests the response rate was 209 (56,6%). Of the 60 dwelling units, 43 (71,7%) were calculated (according to . Batsons Index) to be crowded and 16 (26,7%) dwelling units had an overall ventilation of less than 5% (below the required regulation). There were significantly (p<0,005) more male than female smokers and only 78 (34,2%) of the residents regarded themselves as non-smokers. A similar trend was noted with regards to the alcohol intake of the residents, where only 86 (37,7%) regarded themselves as teetotallers, with significantly more (p=0,003) male than female alcohol consumers. Females sc6red significantly (p=0,002) better than the males with regards to TB knowledge and awareness. Only 199 (67,2%), residents indicated that they had had BeG vaccination. Of the 296 residents responding to the survey, there were 83 children aged 14 years or less. And only 74 of these children were confirmed to have been vaccinated with BeG, resulting in a 89,2% BeG coverage. Two (4,7%) of the 43 children aged 14 years or less were determined to be malnourished on the basis of Z-scores (below -2SD) taking into account height for age as well as weight for height.