title: Demographic and socioeconomic disparity in knowledge about tuberculosis in Inner Mongolia, China.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The aim of this study is to evaluate the awareness status, attitudes, and care-seeking behaviors concerning tuberculosis (TB) and associated factors among the public in Inner Mongolia, China.
  
  
  METHODS
  A five-stage sampling was conducted, in which counties as the primary survey units and towns, villages, and households as sub-survey units were selected progressively. A standardized questionnaire was used to collect TB information. Complex survey analysis methods, including the procedures of survey frequency and survey logistic regression, were applied for analysis of TB knowledge and associated factors. The sample was weighted by survey design, non-respondent, and post-stratification adjustment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Among 10 581 respondents, awareness that TB is an infectious disease was 86.7%. Knowing that a cough lasting ≥3 weeks is suggestive of TB was 26.9%. Knowledge about TB dispensaries in county administrative areas was reported by 68.3% of respondents, and knowledge about the free TB detection/treatment policy was reported by 57.5% of respondents. About 52.5% of participants would stigmatize TB patients. Compared with the majority Han ethnic group, Mongolians and other minorities were 1.52-2.18 times more likely to know about TB curability, TB symptoms, the free detection/treatment policy, and TB dispensaries' locations, but were less likely to know about the TB transmission mode (odds ratio, 0.74; 95% confidence interval, 0.65-0.84). The main sources of TB information were TV (65.6%) and other persons (47.2%). In the past year, 19.7% of TB knowledge was from acquaintances, and 16.1% was from TB institutes.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improvement in knowledge about TB risk (symptoms and transmission), the free treatment policy, and facilities is necessary and should be provided through effective multimedia for different target populations.
authors: University of Tsukuba Faculty of Medicine.
authors: Enbo
authors: E
authors: Ma
authors: Liping
authors: L
authors: Ren
authors: Wensheng
authors: W
authors: Wang
authors: Hideto
authors: H
authors: Takahashi
authors: Yukiko
authors: Y
authors: Wagatsuma
authors: Yulin
authors: Y
authors: Ren
authors: Fei
authors: F
authors: Gao
authors: Fangfang
authors: F
authors: Gao
authors: Wenrui
authors: W
authors: Wang
authors: Lifu
authors: L
authors: Bi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002681:China; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006291:Health Policy; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000523:psychology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy; D055815:Young Adult