Findings of the Study:
Out of 677 persons (149 Households) covered in the study, 30 persons were found to be suffering from T.B. at various stages of infestation. Out of 677 persons, 108 persons are not susceptible to T.B. as they are below 5 years and above 60 years of age who are generally non-susceptible to the T.B. Out of 30 cases,87% are males and 13% are females.
Due to fear of after-effects of BCG vaccination, most of the children in the Chenchu area are not utilizing the Universal immunization programme (UIP) like BCG, DPT etc., this is one of the reasons for the higher number of T.B cases among the Chenchus in Nallamalai forest area.
Almost all the Chenchus are habituated to drinking and smoking. Generally, they smoke cigars and beedies. They exchange the lighted cigars with other members of the family and friends, without having any idea of salival contamination. Further, in discriminate spiting in and around the house by T.B patients enhances the chances of polluting food, water and air with infections germs. These practices offer large scope for spreading the T.B. to other family members living in the vicinity.
Further, most of the Chenchus do not consume milk due to beliefs that it is a sin to deprive the calf of its share of milk from the mother. |
