Abstract
Original Research Article
Full Article (FREE DOWNLOAD)
SMJS Volume 5 Issue 1, Page 2- Page 11
ASSESSMENT OF COMMUNITY AWARENESS TOWARDS TUBERCULOSIS AS A REEMERGING DISEASE, CROSS-SECTIONAL STUDY, KSA
Khalid Abdullah Khalid Alkhalifah, Razan Fahad Abdullah Alzamil, Mayar Abdul Manan Alsayed, Musab Yahya Lahiq Dallak and Soha Abdallah Moursi
To cite this article: Alkhalifah KAK, Alzami RFA, Alsayed MAM, Dallak MYL, Moursi SA* Assessment of Community Awareness towards Tuberculosis as a Reemerging Disease, Cross-sectional study,
KSA. Saudi Med J Students. 2024;5(1):2-11
Objective
The aim of this study is to assess the awareness of TB infection, its complications, and the importance of TB vaccination and healthy lifestyle practices.
Material and methods
This study has been approved by Hail University ethical committee, a cross-sectional study in different regions in KSA from the 1st of January 2023 till the 30th of April 2023. A sample size of 917 included people above 18 years old, males and females, and all levels of education.
Results
A total of 917 participants were included in this study; 62.2% of them were female, 64% were between 18-36 years old, 93.8% were Saudis, and 51.5% were college graduates. The results related to the knowledge of the participants showed that 81.6% had heard about tuberculosis, with the majority relying on educators, relatives, and media as primary sources of information (33.9%, 27.6%, and 15.5%, respectively). 86.6% of respondents considered TB as a very serious disease. Regarding participants' TB practices, 38.5% of them would seek help by visiting a healthcare facility if they got TB, 28% would go to pharmacies, and 14.7% would pursue self-treatment options. Most of those who chose options other than healthcare facilities explained that their behavior was due to not knowing where to go. Women were less likely to have poor knowledge in comparison to men (0.61, 95% CI, 0.43-0.89). Participants over 60 years, non-Saudi residents with lower educational levels had less knowledge compared to others.
Conclusion
Although of the good level of knowledge about Tuberculosis among population, there is gap on their practice. Upcoming public health campaigns should focus about what is the right action the patient needs if he gets TB.
