To investigate the epidemiological trend of pulmonary tuberculosis, and to provide scientific basis for making National Tuberculosis Control Program 2011—2015.

Multi-stage stratified clustered sampling method was adopted, and 176 clusters were selected. All residents over 15 years old received interviewing and chest X-ray examination. Sputum smear and culture were done for subjects with abnormal X-ray films and symptoms suggestive of tuberculosis. Strains isolated by culture were further tested to identify Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex and non-tuberculosis mycobacteria. A weighted adjustment method accounting for complex sampling was used to calculate prevalence and 95% confidence intervals. Second-order Rao-Scott adjusted chi-square test was used to compare prevalence among different groups.

The examination rate was 96.1% (252 940/263 281) of the eligible people. The weighted prevalence of active, smear-positive, bacteriological positive pulmonary tuberculosis was 459/100 000 (1310/252 940), 66/100 000 (188/252 940), 119/100 000 (347/252 940) respectively. Active, smear-positive, bacteriological positive pulmonary tuberculosis prevalence among people over 60 years were 1097/100 000 (637/57 456), 177/100 000 (91/57 456), 323/100 000 (179/57 456). Active and bacteriological positive pulmonary tuberculosis prevalence in rural areas (569/100 000, 936/138 057; 153/100 000, 255/138 057) was higher than that in urban areas (307/100 000, 374/114 883; 73/100 000, 92/114 883). Prevalence in western provinces was high where the active, smear-positive, bacteriological positive pulmonary tuberculosis prevalence was 695/100 000 (567/69 896), 105/100 000 (84/69 896), 198/100 000 (161/69 896) respectively.

The epidemic of tuberculosis is still serious. Tuberculosis control work should be enhanced in high prevalence areas and high risk population.

Tuberculosis, pulmonary; Prevalence; Epidemiology