Knowledge is the most powerful tool in the fight against tuberculosis

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Infectious Diseases
• Epidemiology

Background:

• Tuberculosis (TB) has regained its status as the world's deadliest infectious disease.
• Effective disease control relies heavily on public knowledge and awareness.
• Assessing patient understanding of TB is vital for targeted interventions.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the knowledge of tuberculosis among respiratory patients.
• To investigate the relationship between patients' socio-demographic status and their TB knowledge.

Main Methods:

• A cross-sectional study involving 1,067 respiratory patients.
• Data collected via a questionnaire survey between November 2021 and June 2022.
• Analysis of knowledge in relation to patient demographics and clinical setting (hospitalized vs. ambulatory).

Main Results:

• While most patients recognized TB as infectious, knowledge of its cause was limited (44.2%).
• Hospitalized patients demonstrated significantly better TB knowledge than ambulatory patients.
• Higher education levels and monthly income were independent predictors of better TB knowledge.

Conclusions:

• There is a clear need to enhance tuberculosis awareness, particularly among chronic patients and vulnerable populations.
• Targeted health education programs are essential to improve TB knowledge.
• Addressing socio-economic factors may indirectly improve understanding and control of tuberculosis.