Knowledge, attitudes, and practices about tuberculosis and choice of communication channels in Thailand

Abstract

Introduction: The aim of this study was to assess tuberculosis (TB) knowledge, attitudes, and practices in both the general population and risk groups in Thailand. Methodology: In a cross-sectional survey, a general population (n = 3,074) and family members of a TB patient (n = 559) were randomly selected, using stratified multistage sampling, and interviewed. Results: The average TB knowledge score was 5.7 (maximum = 10) in the Thai and 5.1 in the migrant and ethnic minorities general populations, 6.3 in Thais with a family member with TB, and 5.4 in migrants and ethnic minorities with a family member with TB. In multivariate linear regression among the Thai general population, higher education, higher income, and knowing a person from the community with TB were all significantly associated with level of TB knowledge. Across the different study populations, 18.6% indicated that they had undergone a TB screening test. Multivariate logistic regression found that older age, lower education, being a migrant or belonging to an ethnic minority group, residing in an area supported by the Global Fund, better TB knowledge, having a family member with TB, and knowing other people in the community with TB was associated having been screened for TB. Conclusion: This study revealed deficiencies in the public health knowledge about TB, particularly among migrants and ethnic minorities in Thailand. Sociodemographic factors should be considered when designing communication strategies and TB prevention and control interventions.

The role of mass media exposure on tuberculosis knowledge and attitude among migrant and seasonal farmworkers in Northwest Ethiopia

“…Family size is another significant factor affecting the knowledge status of migrants and seasonal farmworkers. This finding is supported by a study conducted in Thailand among the general population and risk groups [18]. This could be due to the culture of sharing information among the family members to one another if family size is large.…”

The role of mass media exposure on Tuberculosis knowledge and attitude among migrant and seasonal farmworkers in Northwest Ethiopia

“…Family size is another signi cant factor affecting the knowledge status of migrants and seasonal farmworkers. This nding is supported by a study conducted in Thailand among the general population and risk groups (18). This could be due to the culture of sharing information among the family members to one another if family size is large.…”

“…Addressing knowledge gaps in TB prevention has a great role in eliminating TB (5). Literacy (6,7), gender (6), mass media (8)(9)(10), is a TB patient (11), professional occupation (7,12), health education (13), culture myths (14,15), knowledge (16), wealth index (17), age (18), and residence (19) were some of the factors affecting knowledge and attitude. Since knowledge is a precursor of a TB control strategy, determining knowledge of migrants and seasonal farmworkers is very crucial in enabling and fastening controlling TB strategies (20).…”

Factors affecting tuberculosis health message recall 2 years after active case finding in Blantyre, Malawi

“…TB knowledge was significantly higher in community members who had personal/close family experience of TB than those without such experience, as previously described in a study from Asia. 22 A novel finding in our study, however, was the extent to which this association was restricted to residents of cwACF areas, potentially reflecting the combination of 1) greater cumulative exposure to TB messages from the cwACF team and 2) greater engagement (and hence recall) by individuals personally affected by TB. Although formal testing for effect modification failed to show a statistically significant interaction, the current study was not powered to provide such evidence post-stratification: ‘absence of evidence’ rather than ‘evidence of absence’.…”