Adherence to latent tuberculosis infection therapy among latino immigrants.

BACKGROUND

One third of the world population is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In the United States, a key component for eliminating tuberculosis (TB) is treating latent TB infection (LTBI) in high-risk persons such as immigrants.

OBJECTIVE

Examine the prevalence of adherence to LTBI therapy and the influence of basic conditioning factors on adherence among Latino immigrants, guided by Orem's Self-Care Deficit Theory. Adherence was treated as a health deviation self-care requisite; the self-care practice of taking daily medication for 9 months is essential to LTBI adherence. Conditioning factors include gender, age, sociocultural factors, environment, and health state.

DESIGN

Exploratory, cross-sectional.

SAMPLE: Nonprobability sample (n=53) of Latino immigrants attending an urban public health clinic in the Washington, DC metropolitan area.

METHODS

Participants completed a brief questionnaire documenting selected conditioning factors, and 9-month adherence to LTBI therapy was determined from their medical records.

RESULTS

Adherence dropped from 98% in month 2 to 72% at 9 months. The mean number of months adherent was 7.4. Adherence was not significantly associated with gender, country of origin, languages spoken, age, education, or years in the United States. Adherence was slightly lower (t=2.059, p=.059) in persons who knew someone with TB.

CONCLUSIONS

Nurses should emphasize the importance of adherence for the full 9 months to this population.