It is a descriptive study with the aim of studying the prevalence of tuberculosis in the State of Acre from 1995 to 2001. The data were collected from the forms of the Program for Tuberculosis Control of the Health and Sanitation Office. The data show that the incidence has been maintaining an average of 343.7 new cases a year. The pulmonary type was the most prevalent one, accounting for 90.0%. Among the age groups, the 20-49 age range, with 1,347 (56.0%) and the 60 and over-60 age range, with 412 (17.0%), stand out. From 1998 to 2001 the male sex was the most attacked one by the disease, when the year 2000 accounted for 58.2% of the cases. The average of the cure rate was 71.0% and abandonment of treatment was 14.8% in 2001 and 32.3% in 1995. The smallest percentage of death occurred in 1995 (1.0%) and the largest one in 1997 (7.0%). Five cases were notified for the occurrence of coinfection between TB/AIDS and HIV/TB. The program's population coverage was within 90% every year. From the 22 cities, 6 (27.3%) still do not have any action for controlling the disease.
tuberculosis; prevalence; health education
