Abstract:
BACKGROUND: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major communicable disease that is a public health problem. It causes morbidity and motility rate in many countries. Thailand is ranked 26th among TB affected countries out of 30 countries. Chiang Rai province has the highest of TB patients in the Northern region. TB is a human-to-human transmission of the disease. People who are infected with TB will become ill. People who are close to each other will have the chance to get TB from cough and sneeze that risk for TB is easily. In particular, tuberculosis patients who are in the transmission phase will spread the infection.
OBJECTIVE: To determine the factors associated with TB infection and to study the knowledge, attitude and the practice on prevention of TB infection among household contacts of new pulmonary tuberculin (PTB),Chiang rai province
METHOD: Case-control study among household contacts of new PTB Chiang rai province was conducted. The questionnaire was used to collect data, which tested the reliability of the interview. Cronbach's alpha coefficient, knowledge, attitude and practice were 0.718, 0.712, and 0.725. Tuberculin skin test was used to test for tuberculin skin infection.
RESULTS: A total of 125 cases of household contacts, 63 cases (49.6%) ware household contacts of new pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) patients smear positive, and 62 cases (49.6%), were contacts of new PTB smear negative. There were 29 index cases of new PTB smear positive, and 30 index cases of new PTB smear negative. The tuberculin skin test was conducted and found 1 case (1.8%) was positive to TB infection. There was no different of knowledge, attitude, and practice among household contacts both groups.
DISSCUSIONS AND CONCLUSIONS: The prevalence of TB infection among household contacts was 1.8%. That was lower than other study in Chiang rai province. Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of household contacts both groups were not difference. However, other factors may cause the latent tuberculosis infection. Especially if groups are children under 14 years who are infected with HIV. Must be screened and monitored regularly for decreasing the rate of TB infection to TB.