Abstract

It is estimated that one third of the world’s population is infected with Mycobacterium tuberculosis (the bacterium which causes tuberculosis). In 2017, TB caused an estimated 1.3 million deaths (range, 1.2–1.4 million) among HIV-negative people and there were an additional 300 000 deaths from TB (range, 266 000–335 000) among HIV-positive people. Objectives: To study awareness of caregivers about tuberculosis treatment and its compliance. Methods: A Cross-sectional study was conducted among 150 patients of paediatric tuberculosis which included the age group of 0-14 years attending various DOTS centres and some private clinics/hospitals of Lucknow district. All the major tuberculosis centres of Lucknow district were included in the study. Questionnaire was pretested on 10 percent of the calculated sample size at the DOTS centre at KGMU and later modified on the basis of the inputs obtained while pretesting. Results: Friends and relatives were the major source of knowledge about tuberculosis. While most (77%) of the participants knew that TB is a communicable disease, 7.5% believed that there is a supernatural cause for the disease. Out of 59% participants who knew about mode of diagnosis, most knew of X ray as the mode of diagnosis, while only 34% knew of Sputum examination. Nearly 72% believed that TB is curable. 59 percent knew that TB has a relation with nutritional status. 68% of caregivers had poor or average knowledge and awareness score (≤9) about tuberculosis. Most (75.3%) showed a high score in Morrisky medication adherence scale. Conclusion: Most of the participants knew that TB is a communicable disease, this shows that common public is aware about the communicability of the disease. And 72% believed that TB is curable, which shows that common public is aware about curability of the disease

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