Knowledge of Cough Hygiene And Disposal of Sputum in Patients with Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Abstract

Background: In India, we have the most number of cases with pulmonary tuberculosis. The one cause of this widespread is negligence of the patients and health workers towards the prevention and control of this disease. Methods And Materials: A Hospital Based cross sectional study over a period of 3 months . Answers related to knowledge and practices related to sputum disposal, care taken while coughing were evaluated as correct or incorrect. The study questioner also contained different aspects related to knowledge of TB . Study technique was by exit interview. Sample size was 100 (Hundred patients). Results: In our study out of 100 patients with tuberculosis 62% was illiterates and 38% was literates. 38% of patients who were educated, 19% of them was following correct cough technique and the rest 19% did not. 32% of patients was aware of the mode of spread of TB, only 22% followed the correct cough technique and 18% followed correct sputum disposal method. Conclusion: This study has found out that knowledge of spread of tuberculosis of cough technique and sputum disposal is very poor in tuberculosis patients. Proper education and counseling regarding the above should be done at the time of diagnosis.