The social context of tuberculosis and intestinal parasitism found in a sample of 100 recently arrived Indochinese refugees in Rockford, Illinois

Includes bibliographical references.Includes illustration and map.There are well over 450,000 Indochinese refugees now living in the United States. Results of medical examinations concerning individuals in this population who have arrived in this country during the past several years reveal significantly higher rates of occurrence of tuberculosis and intestinal parasites compared to earlier "waves" of Indochinese refugees and the United States population as a whole. This thesis examines the cultural and historical milieus and their effects on the frequencies of tuberculosis and intestinal parasites found in a sample of 100 recently arrived Indochinese refugees in the Rockford, Illinois area. The refugees were tested for the presence of these infectious diseases and were interviewed regarding their personal and health backgrounds and their refugee camp experiences. Statistical associations, ascertained by computer, were tested between the prevalence of tuberculosis and intestinal parasites and social background and refugee camp data. This paper clearly shows that differences in terms of social background and refugee camp experience are directly related to differences found in the prevalence of both tuberculosis and intestinal parasites. Data from this study should be particularly useful to health professionals involved in providing medical services to their Indochinese refugee clients.M.A. (Master of Arts