Table 4.
Characteristics associated with being aware of a tuberculosis (TB) outbreak among participants in the point-in-time count and survey on TB screening and TB outbreak awareness among persons experiencing homelessness, Atlanta, Georgia, January 2016a
| Variable | Aware of TB Outbreakb
(n = 995) |
Unaware of TB Outbreakb
(n = 330) |
pORc (95% CI) | P Valued |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. (%) | No. (%) | |||
| Experience of homelessness | ||||
| Sheltered | 591 (59.4) | 126 (38.2) | 2.38 (1.84-3.08) | <.001 |
| First-time homelesse | 448 (47.4) | 161 (50.0) | 0.83 (0.67-1.11) | .24 |
| Homeless ≥2 times in last 3 yearsf | 416 (47.3) | 128 (44.0) | 1.14 (0.88-1.47) | .32 |
| Evaluated for TB in past 6 monthsg | 904 (91.0) | 236 (72.0) | 4.00 (2.89-5.55) | <.001 |
| Demographic characteristics | ||||
| Age, y | ||||
| <18 | 2 (0.2) | 0 | —h | .56 |
| 18-24 | 35 (3.6) | 20 (6.2) | 0.60 (0.33-1.08) | .10 |
| 25-34 | 142 (14.6) | 48 (15.0) | 1.01 (0.69-1.50) | .95 |
| 35-44 | 168 (17.2) | 69 (21.5) | 0.83 (0.59-1.19) | .32 |
| 45-54 | 327 (33.5) | 112 (34.9) | 1.00 [Reference] | |
| 55-64 | 252 (25.8) | 57 (17.8) | 1.51 (1.06-2.17) | .02 |
| ≥65 | 51 (5.2) | 15 (4.7) | 1.16 (0.63-2.15) | .64 |
| Total | 975 (100.0) | 321 (100.0) | ||
| Race | ||||
| Black | 851 (86.4) | 267 (81.2) | 1.68 (1.10-2.56) | .02 |
| Other/multiracial | 54 (5.5) | 25 (7.6) | 1.14 (0.61-2.14) | .68 |
| White | 70 (7.1) | 37 (11.2) | 1.0 [Reference] | |
| Total | 975 (100.0) | 329 (100.0) | ||
| Hispanic | 23 (2.3) | 12 (3.6) | 0.64 (0.31-1.30) | .22 |
| Male | 865 (86.9) | 260 (78.8) | 1.85 (1.33-2.56) | <.001 |
| Veteran | 111 (11.2) | 45 (13.6) | 0.80 (0.55-1.15) | .23 |
| Current or past medical and social conditionsi | ||||
| Mental illness | 166 (22.7) | 59 (21.2) | 1.09 (0.78-1.53) | .61 |
| HIV/AIDS | 22 (3.0) | 9 (3.2) | 0.93 (0.42-2.04) | .84 |
| Drug abuse | 127 (17.4) | 47 (16.9) | 1.04 (0.72-1.49) | .86 |
| Alcohol abuse | 142 (19.5 | 57 (20.5) | 0.92 (0.66-1.32) | .71 |
| Chronic medical condition | 168 (23.0) | 66 (23.7) | 0.96 (0.69-1.33) | .80 |
| Total | 730 (100.0) | 278 (100.0) | ||
| Factors associated with awareness of TB outbreakj | pOR (95% CI) | aORj (95% CI) | ||
| Sheltered | 2.38 (1.84-3.08) | 1.82 (1.33-2.50) | ||
| Evaluated for TB in past 6 months | 4.00 (2.89-5.55) | 3.36 (2.32-4.84) | ||
| Male sex | 1.85 (1.33-2.56) | 1.72 (1.16-2.54) | ||
Abbreviations: aOR, adjusted odds ratio; pOR, prevalence odds ratio.
aThe point-in-time count is an annual count of all persons experiencing homelessness in a community on a single night in January of each year that is organized by community members to collect and report data for the US Department of Housing and Urban Development.
bResponses to the question, “Are you aware that there is currently an outbreak of TB in the downtown Atlanta homeless population?” were missing for 45 persons.
cConditional maximum likelihood estimated odds ratios of being aware of the TB outbreak, 95% CIs, and corresponding P values. Unless otherwise specified in the table, the reference group for comparisons included the point-in-time survey respondents who answered no on the corresponding yes or no question.
dUsing the Pearson χ2 test, with P < .05 considered significant.
eData on previous homelessness were missing for 58 persons surveyed (50 who were aware of the TB outbreak, 8 who were not).
fData on number of times previously homeless were missing for 154 persons surveyed (115 who were aware of the TB outbreak, 39 who were not).
gResponses to the question, “Have you been tested or evaluated for TB in the last 6 months?” were missing for 4 persons in this subcohort, 2 of whom were aware of the TB outbreak and 2 of whom were not aware of the TB outbreak.
hUndefined value.
iRespondents could report >1 condition.
jControlling for race, HIV/AIDS status, mental illness, chronic medical conditions, drug abuse, and alcohol abuse.