KNOWLEDGE, ATTITUDES, PRACTICES AND PERCEPTION ON TUBERCULOSIS, IN PATIENTS AFFECTED BY THE DISEASE

Abstract

The objective of this study was to identify the knowledge, attitudes, practices and perception regarding tuberculosis of Patients Affected by Tuberculosis (PATB) in the city of Sucre. This is a non-experimental qualitative, quantitative, descriptive, synchronous or cross-sectional study, conducted with 28 PATBs that perform their treatment in first level centers in the city of Sucre. To collect the data, the survey was applied using previously developed and validated questionnaires. Among the results it was obtained that the majority of people affected by TB were male (53.6%), 35.1% married, and the age ranges from 18 to 86 years, being the average age of 42.8 years. 33.8% finished primary school, 40.5% referred to work. With regard to knowledge, the majority (65.5%) report knowing about the disease, 71.2% recognize the symptoms of the disease as well as 93.3% state the correct form of infection. Regarding treatment, 100% of patients perform it in public service, of which 52% say they discuss their illness with health personnel. 44.8% of patients perceive the quality of support services as very good, finally most (78.5%) of patients feel well informed at the time of the survey.