OBJECTIVEIn order to figure out how and to what degree the social and economic development and control strategy influencing the epidemics of tuberculosis and to provide reference for tuberculosis prevention and control in China.

METHODSBased on the data from the nationwide random surveys on tuberculosis in 1979, 1984/1985, 1990 and 2000 and the indexes on social and economic development of China, correlation coefficient was used to analyze the relationship of three factors including (1) the change of epidemic situation of tuberculosis from 1979 to 2000; (2) the level of social and economic development; (3) the implementation of Health V Project.

RESULTSThe prevalence rate of smear positive tuberculosis was significantly correlated to per capita net income of rural population, consumption level of city population, per capita GDP, density of population, and proportion of rural population. Among which the correlation with per capita net in come of rural population, consumption level of city population, per capita GDP, or density of population showed negative, correlation but the proportion of rural population showed positive. The range of GDP increase was similar in both areas with or without the implementation of Health V Project from 1990 to 2000 (77.2% and 77.8%). However, the ranges of the decline of prevalence rate were quite different (44.4% and 12.3%) in the two areas. In the western part of China, the range of GDP increase was similar in the areas with or without the implementation of Health V Project. However, the prevalence rate declined in the area that implementing the project but increased in other areas without the project.

CONCLUSIONThe level of social and economic development had influenced the prevalence rate of tuberculosis, but the implementation of tuberculosis control project played an important role in the reduction of tuberculosis prevalence rate from 1979 to 2000 in China.