Some sociodemographic inequalities of tuberculosis among the geographic regions in Cuba

Abstract

Introduction: The study of the occurrence of tuberculosis in the geographic territories is important to guide decision-makers in the differentiated interventions.Objective: To identify inequalities in the occurrence of tuberculosis and evaluate some individual sociodemographic variables among the geographic regions in Cuba.Methods: Ecological time series study combined with a descriptive study on the number of cases and the incidence rate of tuberculosis in the western, central and eastern regions. We gathered data from the national tuberculosis surveillance database. The incidence rate and the geometric means were calculated, the lowest was the reference to calculate absolute and relative differences. We estimated the regional incidence trends and the proportions of some individual variables.Results: The eastern region showed the lowest geometric mean of the rates (5.2) and was the reference. It had a downward trend, with a total reduction of 22.6%. Men aged 15-64 years prevailed in the three regions (63.8%). Those under 15 years of age were between 0.4% and 1.3%. The eastern region had the fewest deaths (25.9%). The western region accounted for 44.2% of pulmonary tuberculosis cases and 46.3% of bacteriological diagnoses.Conclusions: The Western region had the most significant inequalities and a higher risk of tuberculosis. It should be further analyzed the probable relationship among individual determinants and carry out differentiated interventions.