title: Informal allopathic provider knowledge and practice regarding control and prevention of TB in rural Bangladesh.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  BRAC (formerly Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee), in collaboration with the National Tuberculosis Control Programme, provides one full-day training on TB to make informal allopathic providers knowledgeable for managing TB in rural Bangladesh. This study explored the knowledge and practices of the providers receiving the above training in the control and prevention of TB.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study was conducted in 30 subdistricts, with 30 trained and 30 untrained providers randomly selected from each subdistrict. Approximately 3% (49/1800) did not provide complete information. Pre-tested structured and semi-structured questionnaires were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  TB was commonly perceived as a disease of only males (66.1%, 1157/1751). Only one-quarter knew about the bacterial cause of TB. Very few providers (2.1%, 36) had adequate knowledge regarding prevention of TB. They also lacked knowledge about TB treatment duration (71.6%, 1253), the meaning of DOTS (directly observed treatment, short course) (26.0%, 455) and multidrug resistance (20.6%, 360). Antibiotics (79.7%, 1396) and cough syrup (75.0%, 1313) were commonly prescribed by providers despite symptoms suggestive of TB. However, 70.2% (613) and 74.5% (650) of trained providers' knowledge and practice scores were equal to or more than the mean scores (≥6.97 and ≥6.6, respectively), whereas they were only 49.5% (435) and 64.2% (563), respectively, among untrained providers (p<0.0001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Misperception, lack of knowledge and irrational use of antibiotics are challenges that need to be addressed for controlling and preventing TB efficiently.
authors.affiliation: BRAC Research and Evaluation Division, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh tarunnnn@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Qazi S
authors.initials: QS
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.affiliation: BRAC Research and Evaluation Division, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh Centre of Excellence for Universal Health Coverage, James P. Grant School of Public Health/BRAC University, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Syed M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Ahmed
authors.affiliation: BRAC Health Nutrition and Population Programme, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Mohammad A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Islam
authors.affiliation: BRAC Research and Evaluation Division, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Anita S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Chowdhury
authors.affiliation: BRAC Health Nutrition and Population Programme, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Bodrun N
authors.initials: BN
authors.lastname: Siddiquea
authors.affiliation: National TB Control Programme, Dhaka 1212, Bangladesh.
authors.forename: Mohammad A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Husain
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001459:Bangladesh; D000529:Complementary Therapies; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006282:Health Personnel / Q000193:education / Q000592:standards*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D019035:Rural Health Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012424:Rural Population; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000517:prevention & control*
keywords: BRAC; Bangladesh; DOTS; Informal healthcare providers; TB