Hidden tuberculosis patients among rural-to-urban migrants in Shanghai

ObjectiveTo describe behavior of migrant TB (tuberculosis)patients who keept their TB illness state secret, to analyze its factors and propose so lutions.MethodsQuestionnaire study to 186 new diagnosed TB patients,in-depth interview to staff in Ming hang CDC and doctors in Qibao community.ResultsAbouthalf of the migrant TB patients kept their illness state secret to their neighbors,colleagues and friends.Migrants TB patients were afr aid of losing job and being refused to lease living rooms by landlord if people around them knew thathe/she was ill with TB.Their behavior of keeping TB illness state secret was a problem that need to be treated carefully.ConclusionPatients.behavior of keeping their state of TB illness secret made more trouble in TB control.On the one hand,patients.privacy should be respect if they want to keep their illness state secret;on the other hand,efforts should be tried to remove or reduce risky factors in TB epidemic.Both of them are important.