Cadernos de Saúde Pública (Sep 2015)

Social determinants of nonadherence to tuberculosis treatment in Buenos Aires, Argentina

  • Maria Belen Herrero,
  • Silvina Arrossi,
  • Silvina Ramos,
  • Jose Ueleres Braga

DOI
https://doi.org/10.1590/0102-311X00024314
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 31, no. 9
pp. 1983 – 1994

Abstract

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This study aimed to identify the individual and environmental determinants of nonadherence to tuberculosis (TB) treatment in selected districts in the Buenos Aires Metropolitan Area, in Argentina. We conducted a cross-sectional study using a hierarchical model. Using primary and secondary data, logistic regression was performed to analyze two types of determinants. The likelihood of nonadherence to treatment was greatest among male patients. The following factors led to a greater likelihood of nonadherence to treatment: patients living in a home without running water; head of household without medical insurance; need to use more than one means of transport to reach the health center; place of residence in an area with a high proportion of households connected to the natural gas network; place of residence in an area where a large proportion of families fall below the minimum threshold of subsistence capacity; place of residence in an area where a high proportion of households do not have flushing toilets and basic sanitation. Our results show that social and economic factors – related to both individual and environmental characteristics – influence adherence to TB treatment.

Keywords