The risk factor most associated with TB is poverty and it is believed that in developing countries, more persons die from TB each year than from any other disease. As part of a practicum/field experience required for the master of public health degree program at the University of New Mexico, one graduate student participated in an evaluation of the tuberculosis (TB) surveillance and control program in the Copper Canyon region of the state of Chihuahua, Mexico. This area of northern Mexico is a remote, difficult place to travel with few formal transportation routes other than the train that runs along the rim of the 4,000-foot deep canyon. A large proportion of the population lives in poverty and there is concern that the underlying burden of TB is large. In this session, the student will describe her experiences as well as discuss the issues and challenges she encountered while conducting her practicum both in the United States and in Mexico. Areas to be addressed will include: conducting a surveillance assessment through interaction with state and local health agencies in Mexico, and conducting field research in a language and culture different from one's own. Finally, selected results of a week of interviews with key personnel and stakeholders describing their concerns and issues surrounding TB surveillance and control in northern Mexico will be presented.
Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to:1) identify challenges and insights from a practicum experienced in Mexico for a student from the US 2) discuss primary issues in evaluating a TB control and surveillance program in a remote population
Keywords: International Public Health, Training
Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: None
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.