Universal Journal of Public Health Vol. 4(5), pp. 230 - 238
DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2016.040502
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The Impact of Socioeconomic Factors on Tuberculosis Prevalence in Latvia

Andrejs Ivanovs ^1,*, Ieva Salmane-Kulikovska ², Ludmila Viksna ^3
1 Statistics Unit, Riga Stradins University, Latvia
² Department of Internal Diseases, Riga Stradins University, Latvia
³ Department of Infectology and Dermatology, Riga Stradins University, Latvia

ABSTRACT

Tuberculosis (TB) is commonly linked to poverty, overcrowding and malnutrition. It was known earlier that TB more frequently attacks the most vulnerable part of the society – people who have lower socioeconomic status and harmful habits. Being aware of determinants of TB, attenuation of morbidity can be accomplished. This paper identifies impact of socioeconomic risk factors and risk conditions on prevalence of TB in Latvia, using the Four Layers of Health Determinants Model. The impact of risk factors and risk conditions is analysed in two levels – individual and societal. The results of the study show that the strongest risk factors and risk conditions are HIV positive, homelessness, experience of imprisonment and underweight. BMI, drug abuse and unemployment are the strongest TB predictors. TB prevention programmes should be redesigned to involve additional factors that may contribute to the onset of TB.

KEYWORDS
Tuberculosis (TB), Risk Factors, Risk Conditions

Cite This Paper in IEEE or APA Citation Styles
(a). IEEE Format:
[1] Andrejs Ivanovs , Ieva Salmane-Kulikovska , Ludmila Viksna , "The Impact of Socioeconomic Factors on Tuberculosis Prevalence in Latvia," Universal Journal of Public Health, Vol. 4, No. 5, pp. 230 - 238, 2016. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2016.040502.

(b). APA Format:
Andrejs Ivanovs , Ieva Salmane-Kulikovska , Ludmila Viksna (2016). The Impact of Socioeconomic Factors on Tuberculosis Prevalence in Latvia. Universal Journal of Public Health, 4(5), 230 - 238. DOI: 10.13189/ujph.2016.040502.