Regional Variations or Correlation between Socioeconomic Status and TB Incidence

• Main Authors: Fu-Tain Lin, 林福田
• Other Authors: Chun-Fu Lan
• Format: Others
• Language: zh-TW
• Published: 1999
• Online Access: http://ndltd.ncl.edu.tw/handle/55887697739812691663

碩士 === 國立陽明大學 === 公共衛生研究所 === 87 === Tuberculosis is still an important public health issue in Taiwan. The incidence of aboriginal district was higher than non-aboriginal district or whole Taiwan area. Many researches reported that poverty is associated with a higher TB incidence, and socioeconomic status is an important factor of TB incidence. The purpose of this study is to describe the regional distribution of socioeconomic status and TB incidence, and to examine whether the socioeconomic characteristics of communities are associated with the TB incidence of community residents. The data for this study come from two sources which I have linked together. The first, during 1996, a total of 11,579 newly diagnosed tuberculosis cases in Taiwan area were registered at Taiwan Provincial Chronic Disease Control Bureau. The second, the 1980 census, contains information about the socioeconomic status of townships. Regression analysis indicate that socioeconomic status and life style is significant for TB incidence. Our finding indicate that the possible risk factors of the TB incidence of aboriginal district is divorce, occupation, overcrowding and low education. And this research suggests that improving the whole socioeconomic status such as improving education and healthcare resource as well as living condition is essential for controlling the TB incidence of aboriginal district.