High prevalence of self‐reported tuberculosis and associated factors in a nation‐wide census among prison inmates in Peru

Objective To estimate the prevalence of self‐reported tuberculosis TB diagnosed at Peruvian correctional facilities ( CF s), and their associated factors. Methods Cross‐sectional study based on secondary analysis of the National Census held in all Peruvian CF s in 2016. Outcome was defined as self‐reported TB diagnosed by a healthcare professional intra‐penitentiary. A descriptive bivariate analysis was carried out, followed by multivariate analysis using Poisson regression in order to calculate the adjusted prevalence ratios ( PR a). Additionally, a mixed effects multilevel model adjusted by CF s as clusters was performed. Results Of 77 086 prison inmates in 66 CF s participated in the original census, of which 69 890 were included. Of these, 1754 self‐reported TB diagnosed intra‐penitentiary, yielding a prevalence of 2510/100 000 PDL . In the final model, self‐reported TB was associated with younger age, male gender, lower educational level, not having a stable partner, having prison readmissions and having relatives in prison. There was also strong association with HIV / AIDS ( PR a 2.77; 1.84–4.18), STI s ( PR a 2.13; 1.46–3.10), DM ( PR a 1.99; 1.59–2.50) and recreational drugs use ( PR a 1.41; 1.23–1.61). The mixed model showed significant variance for belonging to different CF s (2.13; 1.02–4.44) and CF overcrowding (3.25; 1.37–7.71). Conclusions Self‐reported TB prevalence found was higher than reported by other lower/lower‐middle income countries. Demographic factors, individual clinical features and overcrowding increases the likelihood of self‐reported TB .