Knowledge of tuberculosis in high-risk populations: survey of inner city minorities.
METHODS
Educational programs targeted toward individuals at risk for tuberculosis are needed. As an initial step in developing future programs, the present study was designed to determine the baseline knowledge about tuberculosis in at-risk individuals.


METHODS
Face-to-face surveys were conducted with 505 minority subjects in the Kansas City Metropolitan area; health care providers were excluded. Thirty-six queries directed toward self-perceived and actual tuberculosis knowledge were asked. Data were tabulated and per cent correct response was determined.


RESULTS
Completed surveys were available from 505 subjects: 342 females and 163 males. Most (97%) of the subjects were African Americans, with 57% between the ages of 21-40. Over two-thirds were high school graduates, and 77% reported an estimated total household annual income of <$20000. Self-perceived knowledge about tuberculosis was rated as 'little' or 'nothing' by 60% of respondents. The overall correct response score was 61%, with 55% correct response to queries related to etiology, 53% for identification of high-risk populations, 57% for possible routes of transmission, 89% for symptoms, and 49% for treatment. Males, those with annual incomes >$20000, and individuals 51-70 years old had the highest scores.


CONCLUSIONS
In this high-risk inner-city population surveyed, knowledge deficits in the etiology, transmission, and treatment of tuberculosis were identified.
Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Missouri-Kansas City, 64108, USA. jsmarinac@pop.umkc.edu
J S
JS
Marinac
S K
SK
Willsie
D
D
McBride
S C
SC
Hamburger
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001741:Black or African American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D003625:Data Collection; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006630:Hispanic or Latino / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D007198:Indians, North American / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D008913:Minority Groups / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D008923:Missouri; D011203:Poverty; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D017678:Sex Distribution; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology*; D014504:Urban Health / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*