Abstract
Certain countries have reported more female than male TB cases (age 15–24). Data for 19 developing countries with high male/female literacy ratio (Literacy 1) and 20 with equal literacy (Literacy 2) included: TB incidence, male/female case ratio age 15–24, maternal mortality, life expectancy, male and female literacy, poverty, per capita gross national income, and percent women working.
T- and Mann–Whitney tests compared Literacy 1 and 2 for health outcomes and socioeconomic (SE) factors. Regressions elicited associations between these variables. Results. All 39 countries. Literacy rates associated strongly with life expectancy and maternal mortality ratio; TB incidence and male/female case ratio, moderately. Economic factors showed less association with health outcomes than literacy rates.
Health outcomes associated strongly with literacy rates within Literacy 1. Most health outcomes associated with most economic factors in Literacy 1. Only in Literacy 1 did health outcomes associate strongly with each other. In Literacy 2, only maternal mortality associated with literacy and with economic factors.
Literacy 1 had low male/female TB case ratio and life expectancy, and high maternal mortality. Discussion/Conclusion. Tight connections in Literacy 1 indicate a rigid, non-resilient system. Literacy confers resilience on Literacy 2, empowering individuals and populations and reflected in public health.
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Acknowledgements
Thanks to Salvatore Rossitto of the Ospedale Umberto 1, Siracusa, Sicily, Italy who sent the author the WHO bar charts and references to hormonal influences on the immune system and TB vulnerability.
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Appendix: Data and Sources for 39 Developing Countries
Appendix: Data and Sources for 39 Developing Countries
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Wallace, D. (2022). Literacy and Public Health. In: Wallace, R. (eds) Essays on Strategy and Public Health. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-83578-1_8
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