Um estudo retrospectivo dos aspectos epidemiológicos da tuberculose na comunidade do Complexo de Manguinhos localizado em área urbana do Rio de Janeiro, Brasil, 2000-2002

To describe some aspects of tuberculosis in a low-income community (the Complexo de Manguinhos, in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil), a retrospective study was carried out. Of the 290 cases reported in the 2000-2002 period, 75.8% were new cases. The annual incidence rates were 157/100,000 (2000), 205/100,000 (2001), and 145/100,000 (2002). Although there was a tendency toward a decrease in the number of cases over the period studied, the difference was not significant, suggesting that tuberculosis continues to be endemic in the area. Therefore, despite the existence of local public health care services, more efficient strategies should be implemented in order to increase the effectiveness of tuberculosis control programs in the area.