Prevalence of smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis in different ethnic groups in India: Evaluation of public health

Summary Objective To estimate the prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in a high-risk rural area of central India. Study design Retrospective analysis of primary data. Methods In total, 10,963 sputum smears were screened from Hindu tribes ( n = 4032), Hindu non-tribal ( n = 5445) and Muslim communities ( n = 1486) between 2004 and 2009. Smears were recorded as positive or negative for tubercle bacilli following staining with acid-fast bacilli, in accordance with the guidelines of the World Health Organization. Age- and gender-specific prevalence rates and relative risks (RR) were calculated using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences Version 13.0. Results The prevalence of TB was found to be significantly higher in Hindu tribes compared with Hindu castes and Muslims ( P