An Assessment of Patient's Perception on Tuberculosis, Prevention and Control in a Teaching Hospital

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) one of the oldest diseases known to humankind and remains as an important public health problem in India. It is still one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality despite the fact that it can be cured with adequate treatment. The emergence of multidrug resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) or extensively drug resistant (XDR-TB) is one of the challenges in our efforts to control TB. The study aim was to assess the patient’s perception on tuberculosis, prevention and control. The research shows significant gender difference between male and female awareness, patients have the information TB is not a contagious, patients were not keeping proper medication records thereby incomplete or inappropriate treatment could have severe consequences of disease and might lead to death. Knowledge about TB symptoms, diagnosis, pulmonary complication, duration of treatment, free treatment, has to be stressed during health education activities.