Tuberculosis Preventive Behaviors and their Determining Factors among Household Contacts of Tuberculosis Patients in Thailand: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) places a substantial burden on global public health, particularly in developing countries—including Thailand. Household contacts (HHCs) of individuals infected with TB are considered high risk due to their elevated risk of catching and transmitting the disease. Objectives: This study explores TB preventive behaviors and their determining factors among HHCs of TB patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study of 245 HHCs who cared for TB patients was conducted in 2022. A questionnaire was used to collect data, which were analyzed using descriptive statistics and stepwise multiple regression analysis. Results: The overall mean score for all the TB preventive behaviors combined was high (3.84 ± 0.692). On examining the three domains of TB preventive behaviors, the mean score for healthy self-care behaviors was lower (3.45 ± 0.752) than the mean score for behaviors performed to contain and prevent the spread of TB infection from TB patients (4.09 ± 0.860), as well as that for environmental management behaviors (3.99 ± 0.910). TB preventive behaviors were determined to a statistically significant degree by the response efficacy of TB prevention (b = 0.396, P-value < 0.001), perceived self-efficacy at TB prevention (b = 0.260, P-value = 0.01), and gender (b = −0.146, Pvalue = 0.047). Conclusion: Overall, TB preventive behaviors among HHCs are at a commendable level in Thailand. However, healthcare institutions and relevant agencies need to actively promote healthier self-care behaviors within these HHCs. This advocacy should place a strong emphasis on enhancing conviction in the benefits of TB preventive behaviors and confidence in performing these behaviors, especially among male HHCs.