Comparative characteristics of social risk factors for local forms of tuberculosis in children: at the peak of the incidence rate and during the period of improving the epidemiological situation

A social risk factor (RF) is one of the main RFs for tuberculosis (TB). The incidence of TB In children depends on that in adults. TB is a social disease, one of whose signs is a direct association with living conditions. Objective. To compare social RFs for local forms of TB in children over time at the incidence peak (2006-2007) and during the period of Improving the epidemiological situation (2020-2021). Subjects and methods. To Identify social RFs for TB, medical records were analyzed and questionnaire survey was done in children aged 12-17 years and adolescents In varying educational establishments who were treated for respiratory TB (60 patients In 2006-2007 and 32 In 2020-2021). The questionnaire contained 37 questions concerning the general characteristics of a child, his/her family composition, and economic, living, and nutritional conditions. The findings were comparatively assessed. Results. The analysis showed that living in a single parent family remained one of the social RFs for TB. At the same time, social and living conditions had substantially Improved: the number of families living In comfortable apartments had grown; and the number of children having a separate room had increased. There was the persistent stress influence on children, which was associated with bad parenting habits, unbalanced diet, and an unsatisfactory way of life, which causes psychological problems In the family.