The Impact of Socioeconomic Factors on Tuberculosis Prevalence in Latvia

Tuberculosis (TB) is commonly linked to poverty, overcrowding and malnutrition. It was known earlier that TB more frequently attacks the most vulnerable part of the society – people who have lower socioeconomic status and harmful habits. Being aware of determinants of TB, attenuation of morbidity can be accomplished. This paper identifies impact of socioeconomic risk factors and risk conditions on prevalence of TB in Latvia, using the Four Layers of Health Determinants Model. The impact of risk factors and risk conditions is analysed in two levels – individual and societal. The results of the study show that the strongest risk factors and risk conditions are HIV positive, homelessness, experience of imprisonment and underweight. BMI, drug abuse and unemployment are the strongest TB predictors. TB prevention programmes should be redesigned to involve additional factors that may contribute to the onset of TB.