AWARENESS REGARDING PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS - A STUDY AMONG PATIENT TAKING TREATMENT OF TUBERCULOSIS IN RURAL SURAT, GUJARAT

Abstract

Background: Pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) is one of the most grave public health problem and account for four fifth of all tuberculosis cases. PTB is the key source of spread of mycobacterium. Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme (RNTCP) adopted passive surveillance strategy of the chest symptomatic for identification of cases of PTB. Therefore, it is utmost important that the basic information about PTB and services provided under the program is clear in community.

Methodology: A cross sectional observational study was conducted among 176 patient taking treatment of PTB from Health Centers of Surat District.

Results: More than 80 percent of the respondents were aware of symptomatology of PTB. Almost all (96.7%) of patient were aware about one person to other person mode of transmission of tuberculosis. Almost half were aware about the infective organism as cause of disease and more than one third patients were aware of diagnostic investigations of PTB. However only 9% of patients were know about BCG immunization as means of prevention for tuberculosis. Most of the respondents 95% believed that tuberculosis is curable.

Conclusion: The current study revealed that although awareness regarding certain basic aspect of tuberculosis was adequate; however there is a great need to improve awareness in illiterate individuals and females. Importance of BCG vaccination needs to be appreciated in community through continuation and innovations in IEC.