[Social factors and their effect on the epidemiology of tuberculosis in the Far North areas].

Though in the Far North areas there is a decrease in the epidemic causes of tuberculosis, one can observe a greater role of negative social and sanitary factors influencing its morbidity. In the pattern of factors predisposing to newly diagnosed cases of the disease, unsatisfactory housing and living conditions as well as unqualified physical labour performed under unfavourable production and extreme climatic conditions, which are often combined with hazardous habits and concomitant diseases, are becoming more common. Higher tuberculosis morbidity among the aboriginal population with lower rates of their contamination are directly related to the level of their social and sanitary conditions, traditional way of life, occupational activities and disadvantages in the social development of the areas of their preferential habitation. In this connection, while taking further steps against tuberculosis in the Far North areas, it seems necessary to intensify social and preventive measures as well as antituberculous care of the groups which are influenced by clearly negative social and sanitary factors.