Tuberculosis and incarceration: uncovering the broader picture

Understanding structural determinants is crucial in addressing tuberculosis, as these factors define the context in which the disease impacts populations. Incarceration has, in recent years, emerged as a major driver for tuberculosis in Latin America.1, 2 Although tuberculosis notification rates among the general population have remained stable, rates among people deprived of liberty have rapidly escalated in the region,² yet these account for only half of the actual burden.³ However, focusing solely on tuberculosis among incarcerated individuals does not fully capture the broader impact of incarceration on the tuberculosis epidemic in Latin America.