Inequality in the global incidence and prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) and TB/HIV according to the human development index

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the ten leading causes of death, especially in developing countries. We aimed to assess the inequality in the incidence and prevalence of TB and TB/HIV based on the human development index (HDI) globally.

In this ecological study, the data on the incidence and prevalence of TB, HIV, and TB/HIV co-infection in 168 countries were obtained from the World Health Organization (WHO). The HDI of these countries in 2000, 2005, 2010, and 2015 was also obtained from the United Nations Development Program (UNDP). The concentration index was used to assess the inequality of the incidence and prevalence of TB and TB/HIV based on the HDI globally.

The concentration index for the incidence of TB according to the HDI was -0.32 (95% CI: -0.46, -0.17), -0.36 (95% CI: -0.49, -0.23), -0.37 (95% CI: -0.52, -0.22), and -0.36 (-0.52, -0.21) in 2000, 2005, 2010, and 2015, respectively. The same pattern was observed for the incidence and prevalence of TB/HIV. The results showed that TB and TB/HIV mainly concentrated in countries with a lower HDI.

According to the results of this study, the incidence of TB and TB/HIV and the prevalence of TB/HIV concentrated in the countries with a lower HDI. In addition, inequality in TB and HIV based on the HDI did not change from 2000 to 2015. Therefore, it seems that public health programs, especially in low-income countries, should be revised and the World Health Organization and the United Nations should provide more technical and financial help for these countries.