The epidemiology of tuberculosis among North Carolina migrant farm workers. 1991

S D Ciesielski, and J R Seed, and D H Esposito, and N Hunter
Department of Parasitology and Laboratory Practice, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill 27599.

Although tuberculosis (TB) has been recognized as a significant health problem of migrant farm workers, the nature and extent of the problem have been poorly defined. We report the first population-based study of TB in a random sample of farm workers (n = 543) and the first use of recall antigens in an epidemiologic study of TB. Purified protein derivative positivity ranged from 33% in Hispanics to 54% in US-born blacks and 76% in Haitians. Active tubercular disease occurred in 3.6% of US-born blacks and 0.47% of Hispanics. Among US-born blacks, risk factors associated with farm work were most significant. Blacks born in the United States also had the highest prevalence of anergy. The use of recall antigens made possible a better description of the epidemiology of TB by excluding false negatives and clarifying associations between infection and risk factors. We conclude that TB among farm workers represents a serious public health problem with previously unrecognized risk factors. Additional resources for migrant health care, improvements in health care access, and fundamental changes in the system of migrant labor are all necessary to reduce the transmission of TB.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D009657 North Carolina State bounded on the north by Virginia, on the east and Southeast by the Atlantic Ocean, on the south by Georgia and South Carolina, and on the west by Tennessee.
D012044 Regression Analysis Procedures for finding the mathematical function which best describes the relationship between a dependent variable and one or more independent variables. In linear regression (see LINEAR MODELS) the relationship is constrained to be a straight line and LEAST-SQUARES ANALYSIS is used to determine the best fit. In logistic regression (see LOGISTIC MODELS) the dependent variable is qualitative rather than continuously variable and LIKELIHOOD FUNCTIONS are used to find the best relationship. In multiple regression, the dependent variable is considered to depend on more than a single independent variable. Regression Diagnostics,Statistical Regression,Analysis, Regression,Analyses, Regression,Diagnostics, Regression,Regression Analyses,Regression, Statistical,Regressions, Statistical,Statistical Regressions
D006630 Hispanic or Latino A person of Cuban, Mexican, Puerto Rican, South or Central American, or other Spanish culture or origin, regardless of race (https://www.federalregister.gov/documents/1997/10/30/97-28653/revisions-to-the-standards-for-the-classification-of-federal-data-on-race-and-ethnicity). In the United States it is used for classification of federal government data on race and ethnicity. Race and ethnicity terms are self-identified social construct and may include terms outdated and offensive in MeSH to assist users who are interested in retrieving comprehensive search results for studies such as in longitudinal studies. Cuban Americans,Hispanic Americans,Latin Americans, US,Latinas,Latinos,Latinx,Puerto Ricans,Spanish Americans,Hispanics,American, Hispanic,American, US Latin,Cuban American,Hispanic American,Hispanic or Latinos,Latin American, US,Latina,Latino,Puerto Rican,Spanish American,US Latin American,US Latin Americans
D006801 Humans Members of the species Homo sapiens. Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000383 Agriculture The science, art or practice of cultivating soil, producing crops, and raising livestock. Agronomy,Agricultural Development,Farming,Agronomies,Development, Agricultural
D014171 Transients and Migrants People who frequently change their place of residence. Migrants,Migrant Workers,Nomads,Nonmigrants,Squatters,Transients,Migrant,Migrant Worker,Migrants and Transients,Nomad,Nonmigrant,Squatter,Transient,Worker, Migrant,Workers, Migrant
D014374 Tuberculin Test One of several skin tests to determine past or present tuberculosis infection. A purified protein derivative of the tubercle bacilli, called tuberculin, is introduced into the skin by scratch, puncture, or interdermal injection. Test, Tuberculin,Tests, Tuberculin,Tuberculin Tests
D014397 Tuberculosis, Pulmonary MYCOBACTERIUM infections of the lung. Pulmonary Consumption,Pulmonary Phthisis,Pulmonary Tuberculoses,Pulmonary Tuberculosis,Tuberculoses, Pulmonary,Consumption, Pulmonary,Consumptions, Pulmonary,Phthises, Pulmonary,Phthisis, Pulmonary,Pulmonary Consumptions,Pulmonary Phthises
D015994 Incidence The number of new cases of a given disease during a given period in a specified population. It also is used for the rate at which new events occur in a defined population. It is differentiated from PREVALENCE, which refers to all cases in the population at a given time. Attack Rate,Cumulative Incidence,Incidence Proportion,Incidence Rate,Person-time Rate,Secondary Attack Rate,Attack Rate, Secondary,Attack Rates,Cumulative Incidences,Incidence Proportions,Incidence Rates,Incidence, Cumulative,Incidences,Person time Rate,Person-time Rates,Proportion, Incidence,Rate, Attack,Rate, Incidence,Rate, Person-time,Rate, Secondary Attack,Secondary Attack Rates
D015995 Prevalence The total number of cases of a given disease in a specified population at a designated time. It is differentiated from INCIDENCE, which refers to the number of new cases in the population at a given time. Period Prevalence,Point Prevalence,Period Prevalences,Point Prevalences,Prevalence, Period,Prevalence, Point,Prevalences

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