Abstract:
OBJECTIVE: To assess risk factors that might influence
TB control in the general population and in livestockkeepers.
METHODS: Of 242 villages in four districts, 27 were
selected randomly. In each village, a general and a livestock-
keeping group were selected at random. The
households were home-visited and 426 family members
were interviewed.
RESULTS: On average, three-quarters of households
practised at least one risk activity for transmission of
zoonotic tuberculosis, and respondents had poor knowledge
about tuberculosis. In the livestock-keeping group,
the risks of having a tuberculosis patient in the family
were determined by poor ventilation (OR 2.6, 95%CI
1.1–6.5), confining livestock indoors with people (OR
2.3, 95%CI 1.1–5.0) and multiple determinants including
poor ventilation (OR 13.5, 95%CI 2.5–71.7). Risk
activities and the risks of having a tuberculosis patient in
a family were significantly higher in the livestock-keeping
group.
CONCLUSIONS: The respondents had limited knowledge
about tuberculosis, and the households had practices
that posed potential risks for both human and
bovine tuberculosis infection. Poor ventilation and confining
livestock indoors were associated with tuberculosis
spread in the households. These risks were observed
more in the livestock-keeping group than in the general
population group.
