Tuberculosis in prison and aspects associated with the diagnosis site

Tuberculosis (TB) is highly endemic in prison environments, and requires special attention in the population deprived of liberty (PDL). Thus, we aimed to describe the epidemiological situation of TB among PDL in a large municipality of the Brazilian Legal Amazon, from 2012 to 2016, and to identify the factors associated with the site of TB cases notification.

Both descriptive and cross-sectional studies were conducted. Sociodemographic, clinical, diagnostic and treatment data of PDL with TB were collected from the National Disease Notification System - SINAN. Data analysis included frequency distribution, Chi-square test, Fisher exact test and residue analysis, with a significance level of 95%.

256 cases of TB have been notified among PDL in the penitentiary complex situated in the municipality and 100 cases in local health services, such as Primary Health Care units or referral services. Notification in the penitentiary complex was associated with non-X-ray and more than ten contacts identified. An association was found between diagnosis in local health services and female sex, AIDS, alcoholism, illicit drug use, extrapulmonary clinical form, extrapulmonary pulmonary disease, suspected X-ray, sputum smear-negative for diagnosis, HIV positive, culture of sputum not performed/ in progress, DOT ignored/ blank, less than five contacts identified, transfer and others as closure situation.

The results show that intricate TB cases were notified by the local health services. Strategies of surveillance and articulation with these health services seem to contribute to the identification of TB cases among PDL.