While the incidence rate of tuberculosis had steadily decreased in Tochigi Prefecture until 1981, the rate began to increase since around 1982 in contrast to the continuous decrease in Japan.
An interview survey of the factors and the background of newly registered tuberculosis patients in three health centers of Tochigi Prefecture was coducted to clarify the reason of the recent undesirable changes of the epidemiological picture of tuberculosis in Tochigi Prefecture. Those items included in the interview survey were X-ray and bacteriological findings at registry, mode of detection, previous history of tuberculosis, symptoms, coverage of previous examination, etc.
Of 178 newly registered tuberculous patients in these three health center districts in Tochigi Prefecture, 175 (98%) were interviewed by public health nurses during the period from April, 1987 to January, 1988.
