Report

This report is the proceedings of the Tuberculosis Behavioral and Social Science Research Forum held on December 10-11, 2003 in Atlanta, GA. The Forum's goal was to identify and prioritize TB behavioral and social science research needs, so that a research agenda for TB prevention, control, and treatment could be developed. These Forum Proceedings include summaries of presentations and discussions, as well as a synthesis of research needs and priorities identified by attendees. For a hardcopy, contact the Communications, Education, and Behavioral Studies Branch at (404) 639-8135.

Faced with four overlapping epidemics -- drug use, sexually transmitted infections, HIV/AIDS, and tuberculosis -- Central Asia may face a serious crisis in 20 years' time unless concerted action is taken now. This study, geared to policymakers, provides an epidemiological update and looks at actions taken already by governments, NGOs, and donors in four Central Asian countries. It finds that injecting drug users, sex workers, prisoners and youth at risk are barely attended to, while truck drivers and migrants are overlooked all together.

To describe patterns of silicosis mortality in the United States, CDC analyzed data from the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) National Occupational Respiratory Mortality System (NORMS) for 1968-2002. This report summarizes the results of that analysis, which indicated a decline in silicosis mortality during 1968-2002 and suggested that progress has been made in reducing the incidence of silicosis in the United States. However, silicosis deaths and new cases still occur, even in young workers.

This report is an outline of the Expert Consultation on TB/HIV Research Priorities in Resource-limited Setting on 14-16 February 2005 in Geneva, Switzerland.

This report highlights the work of community-based organizations and people living with HIV/AIDS in advocating for coordinated TB and HIV policies and services in their countries. The report presents case studies from Indonesia, Mexico, Sierra Leon, South Africa, Ukraine, and the Caribbean, highlighting community advocates’ strategies, achievements, and lessons learned.

The "10/90 Gap" is the idea that only 10% of global health research is devoted to conditions accounting for 90% of the global disease burden.
This report dispels the myth of the 10/90 Gap in health research including research regarding tuberculosis. It calls for a more constructive approach to improving access to medicines for the poor.

Developed by the Tuberculosis Coalition for Technical Assistance (TBCTA) with funding from the United States Agency for International Development (USAID), the International Standards for Tuberculosis Care describe a widely accepted level of care that all practitioners, public and private, should seek to achieve in managing patients who have, or are suspected of having, tuberculosis. The standards are intended to facilitate the effective engagement of all care providers in delivering high-quality care for patients of all ages.

This report, from the National Tuberculosis Controllers Association and CDC, is an update of the American Thoracic Society guidelines on the investigation, diagnostic evaluation, and medical treatment of TB contacts published in 1976. These revised guidelines provide recommendations concerning investigation of TB exposure and transmission and prevention of future cases of TB through contact investigation.

As a member of the Stop TB Partnership, the Health and Development Networks moderated a six-month discussion on the Stop TB eForum on key roles and needs of front-line health workers in stopping tuberculosis. This publication describes key findings and recommendations from the discussions on the crucial role front-line health workers play in TB control.

This report seeks to synthesize what is known about HIV/AIDS, Malaria, TB and other disease threats including Avian influenza (H5N1 virus) in Burma; assess the regional health and security concerns associated with these epidemics; and to suggest policy options for responding to these threats in the context of tightening restrictions imposed by the junta.