Abstract

 

Objectives: Close contacts’ investigation is one of the most efficient and economic methods to control

tuberculosis in a society. This study was conducted to evaluate the identification and evaluation services for close

contacts of tuberculozis patients followed by Malatya Tuberculosis Control Dispanseries.

Material and method: All of 212 tuberculosis patients' records followed by the two Tuberculosis Control

Dispanseries in Malatya between January to December 1998 were evaluated.

Results: Of the tuberculosis patients, 60% were men and 40% were women. Mean age of the patients was

35.7±1.3 years. Most of the patients had no health insurance (70.0%) and 28.8% were illiterate. An average of 4

close contacts per patient were identified but only 35% of them were evaluated for tuberculosis. Evaluations of

identified close contacts were performed in the central district (42.1%) more frequently compared to other

administrative districts (27.3%) (P