Tuberculosis control practices in some prison systems of the Asia-Pacific Region, 1997

SETTING: Prison health services of Member States of the Western-Pacific Reg ion (WPR) of the World Health Organization (WHO). OBJECTIVE: TO assess tuberculosis control activities in prisons. DESIGN: Self-reporting questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 15 responses out of a possible 26 (57%) were received f rom WPR countries. The estimated population for the respondent countries wa s 65 154 000 out of a possible 1 580 000 000 (4%); 69% of respondents state d that the prison health service was independent of the custodial service, 86% notified tuberculosis cases to national health authorities, and 84% of respondents applied directly observed therapy to tuberculosis cases. Only 7 6% of respondents reported that patients were transferred on release to com munity treatment services. CONCLUSIONS: Tuberculosis control practices in prisons are inconsistent, an d do not conform to guidelines now promoted by the WHO. Emphasis on the dia gnosis and treatment of infectious cases, improved surveillance of tubercul osis, and the integration of prison programmes into the National Tuberculos is Programmes (NTP) will improve the current epidemic behind prison walls.