title: [Community health workers' knowledge on tuberculosis, control measures, and directly observed therapy].
abstract: This study assessed community health workers' (CHW) knowledge on tuberculosis (TB), TB control measures, and directly observed therapy (DOT) in Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais State, Brazil. This was a cross-sectional study that applied a questionnaire in a random and representative sample of 489 CHW. The overall proportion of correct answers was 74.6%. The mean proportions of correct answers in the domains for TB, TB control measures, and DOT were 81%, 84.1%, and 59.4%, respectively. The study showed knowledge gaps in the identification of patients with pulmonary TB, the target public for DOT, and adequate technique for treatment supervision. Better knowledge was associated with time working as a CHW (OR = 2.3) and follow-up of cases in the 12 months prior to the interview (OR = 1.7). The study provided new scientific data on level of knowledge among CHW concerning DOT and can support strategies to improve TB control activities.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brasil.
authors.forename: Gustavo Silva Souto
authors.initials: GS
authors.lastname: Rocha
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brasil.
authors.forename: Marina Guimaraes
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.affiliation: Secretaria Municipal de Saúde de Belo Horizonte, Belo Horizonte, Brasil.
authors.forename: Joyce Laura
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Moreira
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brasil.
authors.forename: Kennedy Crepalde
authors.initials: KC
authors.lastname: Ribeiro
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brasil.
authors.forename: Maria das Graças Braga
authors.initials: Md
authors.lastname: Ceccato
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brasil.
authors.forename: Wânia da Silva
authors.initials: Wda S
authors.lastname: Carvalho
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Farmácia, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Belo Horizonte, Brasil.
authors.forename: Micheline Rosa
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Silveira
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001938:Brazil; D003153:Community Health Services; D003150:Community Health Workers; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011361:Professional Competence; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult