Background:
Tuberculosis (TB) is a major health problem in India. The Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) is working towards elimination of TB in the country by 2025. As the RNTCP relies on passive case finding, it is crucial for the success of the RNTCP that TB patients have knowledge about their disease. The present study aimed to assess the knowledge of TB among pulmonary TB (PTB) patients.
Materials and Methods:
A cross-sectional questionnaire based study using a pretested semi-structured questionnaire among new and previously treated PTB patients at Haldwani Block of Nainital District of Uttarakhand State of North India. Data was analyzed using the software Epi Info version 7.2.0.1.
Results:
A total of 111 PTB patients with mean age of 36.3 years were included for final analysis. Only 43.2% PTB patients were aware that TB is caused by germs, 48.6% knew that it is not a hereditary disease. Only 13.5% PTB patients knew that vaccine is available and majority (68.5%) were aware of covering mouth and nose while coughing and sneezing for prevention of the disease. Overall, only two-third (65%) patients had good knowledge about TB.
Conclusions:
About one-third of PTB patients had poor knowledge about TB. This highlights that to achieve elimination of TB, RNTCP needs to change the present information, education, and communication (IEC) system which is based on a bio-medical framework, and to design a culturally sensitive health education system. Alternatively, the Programme needs to shift from passive case finding to active case finding strategy.
Background: Early case finding and prompt initiation of treatment of pulmonary Tuberculosis (PTB) is the most effective strategy to achieve successful TB control. In order to achieve early initiation of treatment, the Revised National TB Control Programme (RNTCP) since its launch in 1997 has been using advocacy, communication and social mobilization (ACSM) strategy targeted at health care providers (HCP) and other stake holders by large scale utilization of electronic and print media. Objective: To study whether RNTCP is really achieving early initiation of TB treatment among infectious PTB patients. Methods: A cross- sectional study among new smear positive PTB patients at Haldwani block of Nainital district of Uttarakhand State of North India. Data was analyzed using the software Epi Info version 7.2.0.1. Results: Of the 85 infectious PTB patients included in the study, the median time consumed between onset of cough and contact with the first HCP, between first HCP contact to confirmation of diagnosis, and between confirmation of diagnosis to initiation of treatment were 6 days, 43 days and 6 days respectively. Overall, median time consumed between onset of cough to initiation of treatment was 61 days. HCPs working in the public health settings fared no better than those in the private health sector in this regard. Conclusions: Although majority patients sought medical care timely, a considerably unacceptable long time was consumed by HCPs in initiation of treatment of PTB.
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