Investigation of performance of tuberculosis prevention and control in schools in Jiangxi, 2015−2020

  Objective  To investigate the performance of tuberculosis (TB) prevention and control and TB screening in freshmen in schools in Jiangxi province during the 13^th Five-Year Plan period and provide scientific basis for the improvement of TB prevention and control in schools.

  Methods  Stratified random sampling and typical sampling methods were used to select 35 junior high schools, 37 senior high schools and 12 universities in Jiangxi to conduct on-site questionnaire surveys. Descriptive analysis and χ² test were performed on the data.

  Results  Up to 75.00% of the schools had school doctors/health teachers. The proportions of trained health care workers in universities, senior high schools and junior high schools was 83.33%, 45.95% and 65.71%, respectively, the differences were significant (χ²=6.211, P=0.045). From 2015 to 2020, the overall TB screening rate in freshmen showed an increasing trend year by year (Trend χ²=21734.383, 1054.977, 9134.017, 492.806, respectively, all P＜0.001), while the standardized screening rate of TB showed a decrease trend first and then an increase trend (Trend χ²=17914.123, 1774.853, 16119.091, 82321.455, respectively, all P＜0.001).

  Conclusion  The TB screening rate in freshmen in Jiangxi showed an increase trend year by year, but there are still some problems in the TB prevention and control in schools. Increasing policy and financial supports, improving the allocation and training of school health care workers and strengthening and standardizing the TB screening in freshmen are important for the TB prevention and control in schools and control efforts in the future.