Tuberculosis survey in Little Andaman

A tuberculosis survey was conducted in Little Andarnan island. Cluster sampling procedure covering 12 of the 13 villages was used to select the sample for the survey.  Out of the total population 9,125 were aged 10 years' and above. A total of 15 clusters, each with approximately 200 persons, were selected. Enumeration of all the subjects in each cluster was done with household as the unit and persons aged 10 years and above were questioned for the presence of chest symptoms. Sterile sputum containers were given to the chest symptomatics to collect the overnight sputum specimen. Chest X-rays were taken at tile nearest PHCs and read by a radiologist. All cases and suspects detected in the survey, based on symptoms were referred to the nearest PHC for anti-tuberculosis treatment.

 A total of 190 (11.18%) chest symptomatics were identified during the survey in the sample of 1,700 persons aged 10 years and above. From among the 190 chest symptomatics, further subjected to sputum and radiological examinations, 5 sputum positive cases and 7 suspects were identified. The target of case-finding for Andaman and Nicobar Islands for 1994-95, as fixed by the Ministry of Health and Welfare was 150 cases. Considering this target, 1.4 cases were expected to be detected from the sample population of 1700, annually, but the survey could detect 5 cases. From the remaining 7,425 (60.6%) population aged l0 years and above, chest symptomatics were requested to report to the field clinics through various governmental and non-governmental agencies operating in this island and by making public announcements, Though we could not ensure that this message reached all the people, 3.4% of. the population did report for screening. From these, 11 sputum positive cases and 22 suspects were identified. Under the alloted target, 6 cases were expected to be detected annually from this population. Wider dissemination of information might have been the reason for the higher number of cases detected.