Prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis among prison inmates: A cross-sectional survey at the Correctional and Detention Facility of Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
- PMID: 28759620
- PMCID: PMC5536365
- DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0181995
Prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis among prison inmates: A cross-sectional survey at the Correctional and Detention Facility of Abidjan, Côte d'Ivoire
Abstract
Background: In Côte d'Ivoire, a TB prison program has been developed since 1999. This program includes offering TB screening to prisoners who show up with TB symptoms at the infirmary. Our objective was to estimate the prevalence of pulmonary TB among inmates at the Correctional and Detention Facility of Abidjan, the largest prison of Côte d'Ivoire, 16 years after this TB program was implemented.
Methods: Between March and September 2015, inmates, were screened for pulmonary TB using systematic direct smear microscopy, culture and chest X-ray. All participants were also proposed HIV testing. TB was defined as either confirmed (positive culture), probable (positive microscopy and/or chest X-ray findings suggestive of TB) or possible (signs or symptoms suggestive of TB, no X-Ray or microbiological evidence). Factors associated with confirmed tuberculosis were analysed using multivariable logistic regression.
Results: Among the 943 inmates screened, 88 (9.3%) met the TB case definition, including 19 (2.0%) with confirmed TB, 40 (4.2%) with probable TB and 29 (3.1%) with possible TB. Of the 19 isolated TB strains, 10 (53%) were TB drug resistant, including 7 (37%) with multi-resistance. Of the 10 patients with TB resistant strain, only one had a past history of TB treatment. HIV prevalence was 3.1% overall, and 9.6%among TB cases. Factors associated with confirmed TB were age ≥30 years (Odds Ratio 3.8; 95% CI 1.1-13.3), prolonged cough (Odds Ratio 3.6; 95% CI 1.3-9.5) and fever (Odds Ratio 2.7; 95% CI 1.0-7.5).
Conclusion: In the country largest prison, pulmonary TB is still 10 (confirmed) to 44 times (confirmed, probable or possible) as frequent as in the Côte d'Ivoire general population, despite a long-time running symptom-based program of TB detection. Decreasing TB prevalence and limiting the risk of MDR may require the implementation of annual in-cell TB screening campaigns that systematically target all prison inmates.
Conflict of interest statement
Figures

Similar articles
-
Coordinating the prevention, treatment, and care continuum for HIV-associated tuberculosis in prisons: a health systems strengthening approach.Curr Opin HIV AIDS. 2018 Nov;13(6):492-500. doi: 10.1097/COH.0000000000000505. Curr Opin HIV AIDS. 2018. PMID: 30222608 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Prevalence of smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis and associated risk factors among prisoners in Hadiya Zone prison, Southern Ethiopia.BMC Res Notes. 2016 Apr 2;9:201. doi: 10.1186/s13104-016-2005-7. BMC Res Notes. 2016. PMID: 27038898 Free PMC article.
-
Smear positive pulmonary tuberculosis and HIV co-infection in prison settings of North Gondar Zone, Northwest Ethiopia.BMC Public Health. 2016 Oct 18;16(1):1091. doi: 10.1186/s12889-016-3761-y. BMC Public Health. 2016. PMID: 27756279 Free PMC article.
-
Prevalence of active and latent TB among inmates in a prison hospital in Bahia, Brazil.J Bras Pneumol. 2009 Jan;35(1):63-8. doi: 10.1590/s1806-37132009000100009. J Bras Pneumol. 2009. PMID: 19219332 English, Portuguese.
-
Emergence in Western African countries of MDR-TB, focus on Côte d'Ivoire.Biomed Res Int. 2013;2013:426709. doi: 10.1155/2013/426709. Epub 2013 Sep 4. Biomed Res Int. 2013. PMID: 24093098 Free PMC article. Review.
Cited by
-
Prevalence and Predictors of Pulmonary Tuberculosis among Prison Inmates in Sub-Saharan Africa: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.Tuberc Res Treat. 2023 May 22;2023:6226200. doi: 10.1155/2023/6226200. eCollection 2023. Tuberc Res Treat. 2023. PMID: 37260437 Free PMC article.
-
Coordinating the prevention, treatment, and care continuum for HIV-associated tuberculosis in prisons: a health systems strengthening approach.Curr Opin HIV AIDS. 2018 Nov;13(6):492-500. doi: 10.1097/COH.0000000000000505. Curr Opin HIV AIDS. 2018. PMID: 30222608 Free PMC article. Review.
-
Incidence and Risk Factors Associated with Latent Tuberculosis Infection and Pulmonary Tuberculosis among People Deprived of Liberty in Colombian Prisons.Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2021 Dec 6;106(1):66-74. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.20-0307. Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2021. PMID: 34872056 Free PMC article.
-
Number needed to screen for TB in clinical, structural or occupational risk groups.Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2022 Jun 1;26(6):500-508. doi: 10.5588/ijtld.21.0749. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis. 2022. PMID: 35650693 Free PMC article.
-
Cross-sectional assessment of tuberculosis and HIV prevalence in 13 correctional facilities in Zambia.BMJ Open. 2021 Sep 27;11(9):e052221. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-052221. BMJ Open. 2021. PMID: 34580101 Free PMC article.
References
-
- Institue for Criminal Policy Research (ICPS). New developments: Combating communicable diseases in penitentiary systems in Ukraine, Russia and Kyrgyzstan. Prison Healthcare News. 2003;(4):5‑7.
-
- Rueda ZV, López L, Vélez LA, Marín D, Giraldo MR, Pulido H, et al. High incidence of tuberculosis, low sensitivity of current diagnostic scheme and prolonged culture positivity in four colombian prisons. A cohort study. PloS One. 2013;8(11):e80592 doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0080592 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
-
- Larouzé B, Sánchez A, Diuana V. Tuberculosis behind bars in developing countries: a hidden shame to public health. Trans R Soc Trop Med Hyg. 2008;102(9):841‑2. doi: 10.1016/j.trstmh.2008.04.020 - DOI - PubMed
-
- Ben Amor Y, Nemser B, Singh A, Sankin A, Schluger N. Underreported threat of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Africa. Emerg Infect Dis. 2008;14(9):1345‑52. doi: 10.3201/eid1409.061524 - DOI - PMC - PubMed
MeSH terms
LinkOut - more resources
Full Text Sources
Other Literature Sources
Miscellaneous