This presentation discusses research examining the incidence of tuberculosis (TB) among foreign-born Asians living in Tarrant County, Texas. According to the Centers for Disease Prevention and Control (CDC), TB in native-born Americans is steadily decreasing, while remaining constant for the foreign-born. In 2007, the TB rate among the foreign-born was 9.7 times that of U.S.-born, but among Asians it was 22.9 times the rate among Whites (CDC 2008 September). Data for this study were taken from a tuberculosis screening program conducted in Tarrant County from 1993 to 2006. Using Geographic Information System and statistical analysis, the study explores the relative contribution of traditional epidemiological factors including crowdedness, poverty, and less common factors such as self-reported incarceration, drug use, and other risky behaviors. The results indicate that although Asians make up 4.2% of the population, they account for 18% of TB cases. Surprisingly, however, Asians with TB are less likely to participate in the traditional high-risk behaviors that are normally associated with tuberculosis, including drug use (X2 = 57.426, p = .000), alcoholism (X2 = 39.776, p = .000), homelessness (X2 = 37.029, p = .000), and previous incarceration (X2 = 27.359, p = .000). Traditional programs targeting such high-risk populations may exclude Asians and thus threaten the progress toward TB elimination in the United States (CDC 2008 September). Targeted programs are needed to control TB in the Asian community to facilitate the elimination of TB in the United States.

19 p.

• English

• Sponsor : Honors College University of North Texas

• ARK: ark:/67531/metadc86890