Indonesia has adopted the DOTS strateu since 1994, but it still has the third largest TB cases in the world. The DOTS facilities population coveraged was 98% in 2000, but the Case Detection Rate (CDR) which is one of the key objectives in eliminating TB, was only 19% in 2000 and 21% in 2001. Jakarta has significant TB problem and the CDR was only about 36.18% in 2001 and 39.44% in 2002. This requires urgent improvement. This research identifies and explores factors that contribute to the low CDR by investigating whether there were economic, social, and cultural *circumstances impacting on the community, health system and practice of TB Case Detection in Cipinang District, East Jakarta. Such environments have also been investigated. This research applied case study method and data collected by in-depth semi-structured, individual interviews on 13 community participants included patients, suspected TB persons, relapsed TB persons, housew'ife, teachers, and health cadres; 6 formal and informal community leaders; and 3 health providers of the community health centre (Puskesmas). The major problem found was the poverty in the community. These poor people experience social, physical, psychological, and behavioural disadvantages that were linked to each other and relevant to the research questions. Strategies developed from the participants ' suggestions were recommended to address the problems and to alleviate the poverty.