The 131st Annual Meeting (November 15-19, 2003) of APHA

Abstract #69504

Astou Coly, MPH, University of California at Los Angeles School of Public Health, Box 951772, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, Donald Morisky, ScD, Department of Community Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of California, Los Angeles, 650 Charles E. Young Drive South, CHS 26-070, Los Angeles, CA 90095-1772, 310-825-8508, dmorisky@ucla.edu, and Hoosie Ung, BS, UCLA School of Public Health, 10833 Le Conte Avenue, Box 177220, Los Angeles, CA 90095.

Tuberculosis (TB) claims more lives worldwide than any other infectious disease. In the United States, one out of two persons with TB was born outside the United States. Although among individuals who have been exposed to TB, the disease can be prevented with a 6-month regimen of ionized, many patients fail to complete therapy. Non-adherence is one of the major remaining barriers to the control of TB. This study sought to identify factors associated with completion of care among foreign-born adolescents treated for latent tuberculosis infection (LTBI ). Data collected on 610 foreign-born adolescents recruited from two Los Angeles County health clinics and interviewed at baseline and follow-up identified several factors related to completion of care. We found that 82% of foreign-born adolescents completed care. Independent predictors of completion of care were medication-taking behavior (OR=1.28; 95% CI=1.16-1.41), living with both parents (OR=1.87; 95% CI=1.08-3.25), sexual intercourse (OR=0.54; 95% CI= 0.31-0.94) and speaking mostly or only English with parents (OR=0.34; 95% CI=0.12-0.91). These findings contribute to our understanding of the factors that may explain why some adolescents complete care whereas others do not. They provide supportive evidence that in order to reduce health disparities, tailored intervention programs should be developed to support the screening and completion of treatment of foreign-born adolescents. These programs may be facilitated by the extended role nurse who provides on-going education and counseling at the clinic.

Learning Objectives:

At the end of the session, the participant will be able to
• Understand why foreign-born adolescents are a important group in TB control;
• List socio-demographic factors associated with completion of care;
• List lifestyle and clinic factors predictive of completion of care

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.