Analyze The Impact Of Tuberculosis

Analyze The Impact Of The Tuberculosi

For this short paper assignment, analyze the impact of the tuberculosis burden in garment factory workers in Bangladesh, including an exploration of successful intervention. In your short paper, include the following critical elements: Compare the major burden of disease that you have chosen to other types of burdens. You only need a cursory overview of other burdens here; consider that this comprises about 25% of your paper, so it should only consume about half a page or a long paragraph at most. Assess how the major burden of disease fits into the epidemiologic transition and approximately where the country is in the transition. Describe what the population looks like in terms of age and distribution, as well as poverty levels. Analyze one intervention that has successfully addressed this burden of the disease in the country. What, in your opinion, made the intervention successful?

Paper For Above instruction

The burden of tuberculosis (TB) in Bangladesh, particularly among garment factory workers, exemplifies a significant public health challenge within the context of infectious diseases in a developing country. When compared to other health burdens, such as non-communicable diseases like cardiovascular illnesses or malnutrition, TB remains a prominent cause of mortality and morbidity, especially among socio-economically disadvantaged groups. While non-communicable diseases account for a growing share of disease burden in Bangladesh as part of the country's transition towards epidemiological aging, infectious diseases like TB continue to pose substantial threats, particularly due to overcrowding and poor ventilation in workplaces and urban slums that facilitate transmission. Overall, Bangladesh is in the midst of an epidemiological transition where non-communicable diseases are increasing, yet infectious diseases like TB persist as a major burden, reflecting a combined double burden typical of low-income developing nations (Mahmood, Ali, & Islam, 2013). The demographic profile of Bangladesh is characterized by a youthful population, with approximately 34% under 15 years, and a large working-age population of about 61%, accompanied by significant poverty levels—around 24.3% living below the national poverty line (World Bank, 2017). The country's high population density of over 1,250 persons per square kilometer amplifies the risk of rapid disease transmission, particularly in urban areas—where 66% of the population resides—further exacerbating the tuberculosis burden among factory workers. These workers, mainly women and young girls employed in over 5,600 garment factories, face increased vulnerability due to overcrowded working conditions, poor ventilation, malnutrition, and limited access to health services (Ghosh, 2014). This environment fosters the rapid spread of airborne diseases like TB. The prevalence of TB among garment workers is significantly higher than in the general population, with studies indicating a rate of 960 per 100,000, more than double that of the general Bangladeshi populace (Islam et al., 2015). Such disparities underscore the urgent need for targeted interventions and bolster the recognition that TB remains a predominant public health challenge. The World Health Organization (WHO) reports annual mortality of approximately 65,868 deaths from TB in Bangladesh, demonstrating its persistent and deadly nature (WHO, 2017). In the context of Bangladesh's epidemiologic transition, TB's continued prevalence indicates that the country is in the third stage, where infectious and non-communicable diseases coexist, and health systems struggle to adapt accordingly (Mahmood, Ali, & Islam, 2013). To mitigate the burden among factory workers, Bangladesh has implemented the National Strategic Plan for TB Control, which has achieved a remarkable treatment success rate of over 93%. This program includes deploying automated diagnostic machines for early detection and expanding access to treatment for multidrug-resistant TB—key factors contributing to its success (WHO, 2017). The intervention's success hinges on early diagnosis, effective treatment regimens, and improved awareness, ensuring higher compliance and reducing transmission within vulnerable populations. In conclusion, targeted public health strategies like Bangladesh’s TB control program have demonstrated significant progress, yet the persistent high prevalence among factory workers necessitates ongoing efforts, community engagement, and workplace-based TB management to achieve sustained reductions in TB burden.

References

  • Ghosh, P. (2014). Despite low Pay, poor work conditions, garment factories empowering millions of Bangladeshi women. Retrieved from Health Grove.
  • Islam, Q. S., Akramul Islam, M., Islam, S., Ahmed, S. M., & Islam, M. A. (2015). Prevention and control of tuberculosis in workplaces: how knowledgeable are the workers in Bangladesh. BMC Public Health, 15(1), 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13063-015-0843-7
  • Mahmood, S. A., Ali, S., & Islam, R. (2013). Shifting from infectious diseases to non-communicable diseases: A double burden of disease in Bangladesh. Journal of Public Health and Epidemiology, 5(11), 491-498.
  • World Bank. (2017). Bangladesh: Country profile. Retrieved from https://data.worldbank.org/country/bangladesh
  • World Health Organization. (2017). Health profile of Bangladesh. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/publications/i/item/9789241550394
  • World Health Organization. (2017). WORLD TB DAY 2016: Bangladesh continues its battle against the disease. Retrieved from https://www.who.int/tb/publications/global_report/en/
  • Ghosh, P. (2014). Despite low Pay, poor work conditions, garment factories empowering millions of Bangladeshi women. Retrieved from Health Grove.
  • National Tourism Organization. (2017). Visit Bangladesh. Retrieved from https://www.visitbangladesh.gov.bd
  • Aliprandini, M. (2017). Our World Bangladesh. Retrieved from https://ourworldindata.org/
  • 21st Century Academic Forum. (2017, March 12). Gender Disparity in Management of Tuberculosis Patients among Garments Workers [Video file].

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