Indian J Med Res 141, May 2015, pp 630-635 Pulmonary tuberculosis - a health problem amongst Saharia tribe in Madhya Pradesh V.G. Rao, J. Bhat, R. Yadav, M. Muniyandi, R. Sharma & M.K. Bhondeley National Institute for Research in Tribal Health (ICMR), Jabalpur, India Received May 27, 2014 Background & objectives: The information on tuberculosis (TB) situation amongst Saharia, one of the particularly vulnerable tribal groups (PVTGs) in Madhya Pradesh, is not available from Gwalior division of the State. Hence, this study was undertaken to estimate the prevalence of pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) disease amongst them. Methods: A community based cross-sectional TB prevalence survey was undertaken among Saharia PVTG in Gwalior district of Madhya Pradesh. A random sample of villages predominated by Saharia tribe was selected from all the blocks in proportion to the size of Saharia population in each block of the district. All eligible individuals were questioned for chest symptoms relating to TB. Two sputum samples were collected from each of the eligible individuals, transported to the laboratory, and were examined by Ziehl-Neelsen(ZN) smear microscopy and solid media culture methods. Results: Of the total 10,259 individuals eligible for screening, 9,653 (94.1%) were screened for symptoms. Overall prevalence of PTB was found to be 3294 per 100,000. The prevalence increased with age and the trend was significant (P<0.001). The prevalence of TB was significantly higher amongst males (5497/100,000) as compared to females (1376/100,000) (P<0.001). Interpretation & conclusions: The study results provide vital information on the current situation of pulmonary TB disease among the Saharia tribal community in Gwalior district of Madhya Pradesh. In view of high PTB disease prevalence among this PVTG, there is an urgent need to improve and further intensify TB control measures in this area. Key words Madhya Pradesh - prevalence - pulmonary tuberculosis - Saharia - tribal Tuberculosis (TB) remains the major killer TB burden country in the world and accounts for one infectious disease affecting adults in developing fifth of the world’s new TB cases and two thirds of the countries1. It is estimated that about 3.5 million new cases in the South-East Asia region3. Epidemiological cases of TB continue to occur each year and about information on tuberculosis is vital for planning the 480,000 people die of this disease annually, most of control strategies. However, this information amongst these in five countries, namely, Bangladesh, India, the tribal populations of the country is limited to a few Indonesia, Myanmar and Thailand2. India is the highest studies carried out in some tribal groups4-8. 630 RAO et al: TUBERCULOSIS AMONGST SAHARIA TRIBE 631 Tribal population is an underprivileged group of relative precision of 20 per cent at 95 % confidence society, often having poor access to the health care level, design effect 2 and a coverage for examination delivery systems. Geographical isolation, unique of at least 90 per cent. Looking into the small projected cultural and social practices, lack of formal education adult population of the district, the desired sample size and treatment seeking behaviour, poverty, etc. make was adjusted for the population size. Considering this, these populations vulnerable to several health problems the adjusted sample size was estimated as 9132. including tuberculosis. Tribal population constitutes Sampling design and procedure: The villages in all four around 8.6 per cent of the total population of the country blocks of Gwalior district were arranged in descending and of the total tribal population, around 80 per cent is order of the Saharia tribal population and a list of the found in central India9. It accounts for about a quarter villages predominantly covered by Saharia tribe (80% of the total population in the State of Madhya Pradesh. and above) in these blocks was prepared. A village was There are 46 ethnic groups in the State and three among them have been categorized as particularly vulnerable considered as a sampling unit for the study. The required tribal groups (PVTGs), earlier called as primitive tribal number of villages was selected randomly from these groups. The Saharias are one of these three PVTGs. blocks in proportion to the size of the Saharia tribe in They are mainly located in Gwalior and Chambal each block of the district in order to cover the estimated divisions of Madhya Pradesh, and literacy rate among sample size. Saharia is low at 23.2 per cent10. Census and registration: Planning visits were made Tuberculosis has been found to be a major public to the villages prior to the survey by the team leaders health problem among Saharias of Sheopur district to inform village leaders regarding the purpose of the in Chambal divisions of the State with TB disease survey. Group meetings were also conducted to explain prevalence of 1,518 per 100,000 and annual risk of the community about the purpose of the study. A house tuberculosis infection (ARTI) of 3.9 per cent11,12. to house census was carried out and all individuals in However, no information regarding the TB situation the household were registered. All the individuals aged in this tribal community from Gwalior division of the ≥15 yr and belonging to Saharia tribe were included in State is available. This study was carried out to assess the study. Individuals who were not permanent resident the TB disease situation, particularly prevalence of of the study area and those who refused to give informed pulmonary TB (PTB) in this PVTG in Gwalior district written consent were excluded from the study. Relevant of Madhya Pradesh. data pertaining to an individual were collected on individual card in a pre-coded form. Informed written Material & Methods consent was obtained from all individuals included Study area: A community based cross-sectional TB in the survey. The study was approved by the ethics prevalence survey was carried out by National Institute committee of the Institute. for Research in Tribal Health (NIRTH), Jabalpur in Symptom screening, sputum collection and examination: Gwalior district of Madhya Pradesh during December All individuals aged 15 yr and above were questioned 2012 to August 2013. All the four blocks of district for chest symptoms relating to tuberculosis, namely: viz. Morar, Ghatigaon (Barai), Dabara and Bhitarwar persistent cough for two weeks or more; chest pain for were covered in the survey. The terrain was difficult, one month or more; fever for one month or more; and with most of the villages located in remote forest areas haemoptysis anytime in the last six months. Persons having poor connectivity by road, which remained with any of these symptoms and also those with a cut-off from the surrounding areas during the rainy previous history of anti-TB treatment, were considered season. eligible for sputum collection. Two sputum samples, The population of Saharia primitive tribe in the one spot and one overnight were collected in sterilized district was 33,213 as per Census, 200113. The projected McCartney’s bottles from each eligible individual. The population for the year 2011 was 40,310 (assuming 2% samples were sent to the laboratory for examination annual growth rate) with estimated adult population and were kept at +4°C until processing was done. (15+ yr) of 26,200 (65% of total population). The Smears were prepared from the concentrated samples sample size was estimated to be 14,020 adults aged and stained by using Ziehl-Neelsen (Z-N) method14. ≥15 yr. It was estimated based on the prevalence of All positive smears and 20 per cent random sample 15/1000 bacteriologically positive tuberculosis11, a of negatives were read once again for quality check. 632 INDIAN J MED RES, may 2015 All these specimens were also processed for culture collection (Table I). Thus, the coverage for symptom by modified Petroff’s method15, inoculated on two elicitation and sputum collection was above 90 per slopes of Lowenstein-Jensen (L-J) medium and were cent. Remaining could not be covered as they were examined for growth of Mycobacterium tuberculosis not present at home during the three consecutive visits once a week for up to eight weeks. The growth was by the survey team. The proportion of symptomatic confirmed as M. tuberculosis using niacin test, 68°C individuals increased with age from 5.1 per cent in the catalase test, and growth on L-J medium with para 15-24 yr age group to 19.0 per cent in the 55+ yr age nitro benzoic acid (PNB) (500 μg/ml). group (P<0.001) (Table I). The proportion of males Case definition & treatment: A pulmonary tuberculosis eligible for sputum collection was higher (16.9%) than (PTB) case was defined as an individual in whom that of females (6.6%) (P<0.001) (Table II). any of the two sputum specimens was positive for Prevalence of pulmonary TB: Of the 1071 individuals acid fast bacilli (AFB) by Z-N microscopy and/or examined for sputum, 273 (24.5%) were positive growth of M.tuberculosis by culture examination. All by smear and 243 (22.7%) individuals were culture bacteriologically positive cases were referred to the positive. A total of 318 (29.7%) individuals were concerned health authorities for anti-TB treatment bacteriologically positive by smear and/or culture. under the Revised National Tuberculosis Control Overall prevalence of PTB was found to be 3294 Programme (RNTCP) using its standardized treatment per 100,000. The prevalence of TB was significantly 16 regimens . higher amongst males (5497/100,000) than females Statistical analysis: The data were analyzed using SPSS (1376/100,000) (P<0.001) (Table II). The prevalence package (20.0 version) (SPSS Inc., Chicago, USA) and increased with age from 1200/100,000 in 15-24 to EPI-Info 7.0.