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Gender differences in tuberculosis in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
H Tindó1, S Cesar Cavalcante, E Werneck-Barroso
1Hospital Central da Polícia Militar do Estado do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil.
Summary
Tuberculosis (TB) disproportionately affects women, with higher rates of close contact and extra-pulmonary cases reported in females compared to males in Rio de Janeiro. Genitourinary TB showed the highest female-to-male ratio in this study.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Infectious Diseases
- Epidemiology
Background:
- Tuberculosis (TB) is a significant global health threat, particularly impacting women.
- TB mortality in women exceeds that from all other maternal mortality causes combined.
- Understanding gender disparities in TB is crucial for targeted public health interventions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate and analyze gender differences in reported tuberculosis cases.
- To examine specific patterns, such as prior contact and extra-pulmonary TB, between genders.
- To determine the female-to-male ratio for TB in Rio de Janeiro between 1995 and 1999.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of reported tuberculosis cases in Rio de Janeiro.
- Data collected from January 1995 to December 1999.
- Comparison of demographic and clinical characteristics between female and male TB patients.
Main Results:
- A total of 55,258 cases were analyzed (18,428 females, 36,830 males; female:male ratio 0.5).
- Females reported higher rates of previous close contact with TB cases (30.8%) compared to males (23.1%).
- Extra-pulmonary tuberculosis was more prevalent in females (21.5%) than males (17.7%), with genitourinary TB showing the highest female:male ratio.
Conclusions:
- Significant gender differences exist in tuberculosis epidemiology and presentation.
- Women exhibit distinct risk factors and clinical patterns of TB, including higher rates of close contact and extra-pulmonary disease.
- Findings highlight the need for gender-sensitive approaches in TB control and prevention strategies.