BACKGROUND: The incidence of tuberculosis (TB) in the United States has declined following a logarithmic pattern, with few exceptions. One exception was during the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS) epidemic, which was thought to have caused the deviation. However, since then, alternative explanations have been proposed, including the increased burden of chronic diseases, immigration, and the increase in the use of immune suppressant medications.CONCLUSIONS: The HIV/AIDS epidemic likely played a significant role in the 1979-1985 deviation, but not subsequently. Furthermore, EPTB as a proportion of total TB cases has remained high. Further studies to delineate the etiologies of these findings are needed.METHODS : Epidemiological data of the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Bureau of the Census were analyzed regarding TB incidence, human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) infection, immigration status, and age for the period 1953-2011.RESULTS : Data analysis identified a deviation from the logarithmic decline in TB cases that started in the mid- 2000s. This divergence did not appear to be related to HIV status. The overall decline in TB cases since 1953 has been almost exclusively due to a reduction in pulmonary TB (PTB) and not to extra-pulmonary TB (EPTB).

Thesis (MPH.) -- University of Limpopo, 2017. / The present study presents data about the prevalence and determinants of sputum smear non-conversion in smear positive tuberculosis patients. Despite the intervention by the Sekhukhune District Department of Health through continual training and workshops of professional nurses in respect of the NTCP, there are still more challenges observed in terms of TB management. Aim: To investigate the prevalence and determinants of sputum smear non-conversion in smear positive PTB patients after intensive phase of treatment. Method: Quantitative, descriptive retrospective study of TB records was conducted. Data collection was done by extracting data from ETR.net and exporting it to excel. Data cleaning was done before analysis. Data analysis was done using the computer Statistical Package Software for Social research (SPSS) volume 23.1. Findings: 834 TB patients’ records were extracted from the ETR.net database. 34% of records were available at 2 – months; 57% of the patients were males; also, 81% of the patients were diagnosed/treated at PHC facilities; 52% of the patients were HIV positive; 69% percent of the patients who were smear positive grading p+++ failed to convert after two months. In the univariate logistic regression patients with age 20 – 29 were observed to be 4.9 times likely (O.R. = 4.97) to be sputum positive (P = 0.142).Sputum grade 3(p+++) at the time of diagnosis was found to be significantly associated (P = 0.031) with sputum non – conversion after intensive phase of treatment. Conclusion: Two month sputum smear non-conversion is associated with pre-treatment sputum smear grading.

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) has been rapidly on the ascendency in the recent years globally due to its co-infection with HIV/AIDS. TB case finding is one of the technical pillars of the Directly Observed Treatment Short course (DOTS) TB strategy and there has been advocacy for early TB case detection to be the new focus of TB control efforts. PURPOSE: The purpose of this non-experimental study was to assess the determinants of TB case finding among pulmonary TB patients registered for treatment in Makana Municipality METHOD: A quantitative, non-experimental, cross sectional descriptive study among PTB patients registered for treatment at the primary health care clinics in Makana Municipality was done. Data collection was by self-administered questionnaires while sampling was by systematic sampling of PTB patients at five systematically selected clinics. RESULTS: Patient–related delay contributed more to total delay, in this study sample, than health system-related delay. Health system delay was found to be significantly associated with poorer finances, passive smoking history, seeking care from multiple health providers, initially visiting a non- NTCP health provider, TB stigma , overcrowding in the household and having difficulty with breathing as an initial symptom (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: There was a significant delay in TB case finding among PTB patients in this local municipality and patient related determinants contributed more than health system related determinants to this delay. There is need for the municipal TB programme to embark on an aggressive health education programme to furnish the populace with accurate information about TB, improve their health seeking behaviour and help address the issue of stigma associated with TB. / Health Studies

The purpose of the study was to investigate the knowledge of TB patients receiving TB treatment at a clinic in Tshwane regarding the condition and their treatment. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted. Data was collected using a self-designed structured questionnaire administered by the researcher and nurses. The population consisted of diagnosed TB patients. The total sample consisted of 74 respondents. The respondents were described in terms of inter alia their demographics, aspects of their health and TB and aspects related to clinic visits. For the knowledge about TB a competency indicator was set at 70% which means that those that achieved this were regarded as knowledgeable. Those that were found to be not knowledgeable were 41.9% of the sample. The mean score achieved by the group was 61% with a standard deviation of 25. Recommendations were made to amend knowledge deficits of TB patients and for further research / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

The purpose of the study was to investigate the knowledge of TB patients receiving TB treatment at a clinic in Tshwane regarding the condition and their treatment. A descriptive cross-sectional survey was conducted. Data was collected using a self-designed structured questionnaire administered by the researcher and nurses. The population consisted of diagnosed TB patients. The total sample consisted of 74 respondents. The respondents were described in terms of inter alia their demographics, aspects of their health and TB and aspects related to clinic visits. For the knowledge about TB a competency indicator was set at 70% which means that those that achieved this were regarded as knowledgeable. Those that were found to be not knowledgeable were 41.9% of the sample. The mean score achieved by the group was 61% with a standard deviation of 25. Recommendations were made to amend knowledge deficits of TB patients and for further research / Health Studies / M.A. (Public Health)

BACKGROUND: The prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) has been rapidly on the ascendency in the recent years globally due to its co-infection with HIV/AIDS. TB case finding is one of the technical pillars of the Directly Observed Treatment Short course (DOTS) TB strategy and there has been advocacy for early TB case detection to be the new focus of TB control efforts. PURPOSE: The purpose of this non-experimental study was to assess the determinants of TB case finding among pulmonary TB patients registered for treatment in Makana Municipality METHOD: A quantitative, non-experimental, cross sectional descriptive study among PTB patients registered for treatment at the primary health care clinics in Makana Municipality was done. Data collection was by self-administered questionnaires while sampling was by systematic sampling of PTB patients at five systematically selected clinics. RESULTS: Patient–related delay contributed more to total delay, in this study sample, than health system-related delay. Health system delay was found to be significantly associated with poorer finances, passive smoking history, seeking care from multiple health providers, initially visiting a non- NTCP health provider, TB stigma , overcrowding in the household and having difficulty with breathing as an initial symptom (p<0.05). CONCLUSION: There was a significant delay in TB case finding among PTB patients in this local municipality and patient related determinants contributed more than health system related determinants to this delay. There is need for the municipal TB programme to embark on an aggressive health education programme to furnish the populace with accurate information about TB, improve their health seeking behaviour and help address the issue of stigma associated with TB. / Health Studies