Social Network Analysis as a strategy for the evaluation of health programs for tuberculosis control

Abstract

Tuberculosis, although curable, is the infectious disease that causes most deaths in the world. The understanding of their peculiarities in the social context is fundamental to propose strategies of intervention. From a private, restricted-use database of a Brazilian nongovernmental organization active in the control of tuberculosis, two elements of perpetuation of this disease are discussed: the area of maintenance of the disease related to the clusters and the migration of strong ties between micro areas of the locality in question suggesting that they act as bridges of dissemination between the regions. The use of Social Network Analysis proved to be an effective tool not only for the understanding of the scenario, but also for the direction of the strategies of action. Such possibilities optimize time, financial and human resources, as well as suggest an understanding of the dynamics of tuberculosis anywhere in the world.