Low tuberculosis knowledge among HIV-infected patients in a high HIV prevalence region within southeast India.
METHODS
A private multispecialty hospital in Kakinada, Andhra Pradesh, India.


METHODS
A survey of knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions adapted from a pretested questionnaire was administered to 128 HIV-infected adults, from July to August 2008.


RESULTS
A total of 31% had not heard of tuberculosis (TB), with 15 (38%) currently receiving anti-TB therapy or had received it in the past. Of those familiar with TB, 70% could not list a method by which it was spread. Low education attainment, female sex, and less frequent television exposure were associated with low TB literacy.


CONCLUSIONS
HIV-infected patients in southeast India have poor knowledge of TB and the methods by which it is spread. Scale-up of patient-directed educational programs is necessary to help control TB in India.
University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey, Newark, NJ 07103, USA. arorana@umdnj.edu
Nick
N
Arora
Ravi
R
Vadrevu
Aditya
A
Chandrasekhar
Amita
A
Gupta
D000328:Adult; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D015658:HIV Infections / Q000150:complications / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000523:psychology*; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D007194:India; D008297:Male; D020380:Needs Assessment; D015995:Prevalence; D057566:Self Report; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000628:therapy