Undocumented migrants in Switzerland: geographical origin versus legal status as risk factor for tuberculosis

J Immigr Minor Health. 2010 Feb;12(1):18-23. doi: 10.1007/s10903-009-9271-6.

Abstract

Undocumented migrants, meaning migrants without a legal residency permit, come to Geneva from countries with high tuberculosis (TB) incidence. We estimate here whether being undocumented is a determinant of TB, independently of origin. Cross-sectional study including undocumented migrants in a TB screening program in 2002; results were compared to 12,904 age and frequency matched participants in a general TB screening program conducted at various workplaces in Geneva, Switzerland from 1992 to 2002. A total of 206 undocumented migrants (36% male, 64% female, mean age 37.8 years (SD 11.8), 82.5% from Latin America) participated in the TB screening program. Compared to legal residents, undocumented migrants had an adjusted OR for TB-related fibrotic signs of 1.7 (95% CI 0.8;3.7). The OR of TB-related fibrotic signs for Latin American (vs. other) origin was 2.7 (95% CI 1.6;4.7) among legal residents and 5.5 (95% CI 2.8;10.8) among undocumented migrants. Chest X-ray screening identified a higher proportion of TB-related fibrotic signs among Latin Americans, independently of their residency status.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Geography*
  • Humans
  • Latin America / ethnology
  • Male
  • Mass Screening
  • Middle Aged
  • Mycobacterium / isolation & purification
  • Risk Factors
  • Switzerland / epidemiology
  • Transients and Migrants / legislation & jurisprudence*
  • Tuberculosis / diagnosis
  • Tuberculosis / ethnology*