Knowledge and attitude towards tuberculosis in a slum community of Delhi

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 208 adults (114 males and 94 females) aged 16-70 years, selected by systematic random sampling method in Lok Nayak Colony, Delhi to assess the knowledge and attitude towards tuberculosis (TB). Literacy rate was 28.4%. Only 174 (83.6%) heard of tuberculosis mainly from neighbours (64.9%) and friends (62.1%). Only 2.3% knew that TB was caused by a germ. Literates were more aware than illiterates regarding some signs and symptoms of TB i.e breathlessness (p=0.002), low grade fever (p=0.02), loss of appetite (p<0.001) and factors favouring TB e.g. overcrowding (56.4%) and poor diet (45.4%). Only 12.6% knew about the duration of treatment for 6-8 months and 1.7% knew about preventive role of BCG. Tendency to discriminate TB patients was evident from the findings e.g 71% respondents agreed upon isolating TB patients from the family, 74.1% on avoiding the patient in food sharing, on quitting job by the patient (33%), prohibiting marriage of the patient (27.6%), shunning him from attending social functions (18%), etc. Extensive health education directing towards attitudinal change by community involvement is needed to create awareness and remove myths about TB in such colonies.