Tuberculosis (TB) is the disease caused by the bacterium called Mycobacterium tuberculosis
which mostly affects the lungs but also other organs and tissues. It is estimated that about one
third of the world‟s population is infected by Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The disease is the
leading cause of death from infectious diseases in adults and responsible for an estimated 2
million preventable deaths each year. African region contribute about 26% of all deaths due to
TB. Prisoners form a group of the society with a high risk of TB. Where studies have been
done, the prevalence of TB among prisoners has been found to be up to 100 times higher than
that of the corresponding non institutionalized population. In Tanzania, data on the knowledge
on the prevalence and factors contributing to TB in prisons is limited. The data collected from
TB surveillance system by the National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Program (NTLP) cannot be
reliable for estimating the prevalence and risk factors for transmission of Pulmonary
Tuberculosis (PTB) in prison populations. This study aimed at determining the prevalence of
PTB among prisoners in Segerea, Dar es Salaam and associated factors.