A tuberculosis prevalence survey based on symptoms questioning and sputum examination

A sample survey was undertaken in Raichur district of Karnataka State to estimate the prevalence of bacteriologically positive pulmonary tuberculosis among symptomatics aged 15 years and above. A population of 72,448 persons was registered in a representative sample of 57 villages and 21 enumeration blocks. Of the 42,580 persons aged 15 years and above eligible for symptoms questioning, 40,657 (95.5%) were examined and 3,846 (9.5%) were found to be symptomatics and eligible for sputum examination. Sputum was collected from 3,685 (95.8%) of the 3,846 symptomatics, and subjected to bacteriological examination i.e., smear, culture and drug susceptibility. Certain important findings were as follows: (i) the number of symptomatics increased with increase in age, more often among males (11.9%) than among females (7.1%), (ii) the prevalence of tuberculosis, as assessed by smear and/or culture was 10.9 per 1,000 in population aged 15 years and above, (iii) the prevalence increased with age and was 3 times higher among males as compared to females, (iv) cough was found to be the predominant symptom among the symptomatics (87%) as well as among the cases detected (92%), (v) the prevalence rate based on smear examination of the sputum specimens, using the two microscopy methods (Ziehl-Neelsen and Fluorescence) was 7.6 per 1,000, (vi) culture examination of these specimens yielded 3.3 per 1,100 additional cases, (vii) both the microscopy methods were equally efficient in detecting smear positives, (vii) of the 355 culture positive cases, 17.7% were resistant to Streptomycin, 29.6% to Isoniazid and 7.6% to Rifampicin either alone or in combination with other drugs

Transnational associations and INGOs: Macro-associations

Taking international non-governmental organizations (INGOs) as the key focus, this chapter outlines the history and nature of transnational voluntary associations before proceeding to evaluate the recent transformation of their organizational forms and their shifting geographical distribution. We argue that the traditional, hierarchical model of a Western-headquartered INGO is being increasingly challenged by new, decentralized organizational forms based in multiple world regions. The chapter then considers transnational associations’ practices, exploring their advocacy and service roles and mechanisms for evaluating their effectiveness. The proposition that transnational associations have contributed toward developing global civil society and enhancing global democracy is then considered, before proceeding to an evaluation of their legitimacy and accountability, which have become increasingly central to the research agenda. The chapter concludes with recommendations for future research