The CARAVAN study on tuberculosis among migrants from Central Asia, funded by the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) (2013-2015)
The survey was conducted among migrants who returned to Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan, as well as among migrants from the same countries staying in Kazakhstan at the time of the survey. The project involved the most hidden and potentially more vulnerable migrants from different work areas like agriculture, construction, and trade. Thus, this study acquired knowledge about this vulnerable group, which will be used in policy planning, creating measures to combat tuberculosis, including tuberculosis with multidrug-resistant tuberculosis among migrant workers from Central Asia. The study aimed to assess the prevalence of tuberculosis, the level of knowledge about tuberculosis, access to diagnosis and treatment services and to identify multi-level risk factors related to tuberculosis among migrant workers from Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, and Uzbekistan.
Mapping of the eco-social and genetic factors that determine the susceptibility of the population of the Republic of Kazakhstan to tuberculosis
For more detailed information please visit the project site: https://breeze.ghrcca.org
PARTNERS:
- National TB Center, MoH RK
- National Institute of Geography, MES RK
- Association of Phthisiatricians of the Republic of Kazakhstan
RESEARCH GOAL: 
To evaluate the role of eco-social, individual behavioral and genetic factors in forming the susceptibility to tuberculosis and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR TB) in the population of Kazakhstan.
INFORMATION ABOUT RESEARCH:
While TB incidence has declined in recent years, multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) remains a rising concern. Funded by the Kazakhstan Ministry of Education and Science and The Center of Life Sciences at Nazarbayev University, this project aimed to identify risk factors fueling the TB epidemic in Kazakhstan, particularly the high rates of MDR-TB. The study involved 1,800 participants across four regions and combined case-control, household cohort, and genetic sub-studies. Data was mapped in GIS to reveal the distribution of TB cases and strain types across the regions.
Tuberculosis control is one of the most important problems that Kazakhstan is currently facing; however, the detailed data on the TB exact risk factors in the country are not yet determined. While the general TB morbidity rate has decreased in the last several years, MDR TB is a new problem of TB control at the national level. This project is aimed at defining the exact risk factors contributing to epidemic development, and the reasons for the impending growth of MDR TB. Information collected in four regions of the country will help to better understand how to decrease the TB burden in Kazakhstan. The research is funded by the Committee of Sciences of the Ministry of Education and Science RK. Implementation period: 2011-2014.
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