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Completion of screening for latent tuberculosis infection among immigrants

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  17 November 2004

A. C. C. CARVALHO ,
N. SALERI ,
I. EL-HAMAD ,
S. TEDOLDI ,
S. CAPONE ,
M. C. PEZZOLI ,
M. ZACCARIA ,
A. PIZZOCOLO ,
C. SCARCELLA  and
A. MATTEELLI
A. C. C. CARVALHO
Affiliation:
Institute of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia, Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
N. SALERI
Affiliation:
Institute of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia, Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
I. EL-HAMAD
Affiliation:
Institute of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia, Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy District Health Department, Brescia, Italy
S. TEDOLDI
Affiliation:
Institute of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia, Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
S. CAPONE
Affiliation:
Institute of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia, Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
M. C. PEZZOLI
Affiliation:
Institute of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia, Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
M. ZACCARIA
Affiliation:
District Health Department, Brescia, Italy
A. PIZZOCOLO
Affiliation:
District Health Department, Brescia, Italy
C. SCARCELLA
Affiliation:
District Health Department, Brescia, Italy
A. MATTEELLI
Affiliation:
Institute of Infectious and Tropical Diseases, University of Brescia, Spedali Civili, Brescia, Italy
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Abstract

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The objective of our study was to evaluate the sociodemographic factors associated with completion of screening for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI) among undocumented immigrants in Brescia, Italy. Screening for LTBI was offered to 649 immigrants; 213 (33%) immigrants completed the first step of screening; only 44% (55/124) of individuals with a positive tuberculin skin test result started treatment for LTBI. The univariate analysis showed that being unmarried, of Senegalese nationality and being interviewed by a health-care worker with the same native language as the immigrant were significantly associated with completion of screening for LTBI. In the multiple logistic regression, being interviewed in the native language of the health-care worker (OR 2·5, 95% CI 1·3–4·8, P=0·004) and being of Senegalese origin (OR 2·3, 95% CI 1·4–3·6, P=0·0005) were independently associated with adherence to LTBI screening. Our results suggest that knowledge of the sociodemographic characteristics of immigrants, and the participation of health-care workers of the same cultural origin as the immigrant during the visits, can be an important tool to improve completion of screening for LTBI.

Type
Research Article
Information
Epidemiology & Infection , Volume 133 , Issue 1 , February 2005 , pp. 179 - 185
Copyright
2004 Cambridge University Press