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. 1993 Sep 25;307(6907):759–761. doi: 10.1136/bmj.307.6907.759

Tuberculosis and poverty.

D P Spence 1, J Hotchkiss 1, C S Williams 1, P D Davies 1
PMCID: PMC1696420  PMID: 8219945

Abstract

OBJECTIVE--To examine whether the historical link between tuberculosis and poverty still exists. DESIGN--Retrospective study examining the notifications of all forms of tuberculosis by council ward over a six year period and correlating this with four indices of poverty; council housing, free school meals, the Townsend overall deprivation index, and the Jarman index. SETTING--The 33 electoral wards of the city of Liverpool. SUBJECTS--344 residents of Liverpool with tuberculosis. RESULTS--The rate of tuberculosis was correlated with all measures of poverty, the strongest correlation being with the Jarman index (r = 0.73, p < 0.0001). This link was independent of the high rates of tuberculosis seen in ethnic minorities. CONCLUSION--Tuberculosis remains strongly associated with poverty.

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Selected References

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