Evaluation of Tuberculosis Awareness in Eastern and Western Saudi Arabia

Almuhanna, Mahdi M; Busaleh, Mohammed J; Alkhalaf, Hassan A; AlMalak, Yousif T; Alhussain, Zahra A; Almustafa, Meshal A; Ashor, Nshwa M; Alhomaid, Tameem A; Aldubaykhi, Muhannad M; Alshammasi, Muath S; Alghadouni, Saleh A; Alhuthali, Muna J; Alradhwan, Hassan M; Alharbi, Mohammed D; AlZiyadi, Hadeel A; Alsamaani, Anas S

doi:10.12816/0040116

Evaluation of Tuberculosis Awareness in Eastern and Western Saudi Arabia

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ King Faisal University

² KAUH

³ Qassim University

⁴ Umm Alqura University

⁵ Wroclaw Medical University

⁶ Al Imam Mohammad Ibn Saud Islamic University

⁷ Taif University

⁸ Qassim Mental Health Hospital

10.12816/0040116

Abstract

Background: Previously, and specifically at the last period of 20th century, TB was one of the major leading cause of death. However, the incidence of TB has been decreased. Around ten million cases have been reported in 2015, 61% of them are recorded in Asia. The yearly incidence rate of TB that is recorded in Saudi Arabia is 12/100,000. Eradicating TB is the future plan for the entire world, and WHO are intending to get free TB world. This plan can't be real if general populations are not aware of TB.
Aim: The aim of this study is to assess knowledge, attitude and practice with TB among eastern and western Saudi Arabia community. Method: That was cross-sectional study. So, participants have been selected by random sample from public places in eastern and western Saudi Arabia. The tool that we used to collect data is Self-administrated questionnaire contains demographic part and awareness of TB evaluation part. Then we compare evaluations results according to many variables specifically the region by Chi-Square Test. We consider the result of the comparison is significant level once P-value < 0.05.
Result: Around 750 participants in this study (Response rate 93.75%) by mean age 32. Only 3.6% have a history of TB and 16.8 % have relative with a history of TB. Only 18.1% of participants have good knowledge, only 15.1% have favorable attitude and most of the participants have a good practice (63.7%). People with high degree educational level have better knowledge than others. People who have relative with a history of TB have better knowledge. Females are better in attitude more than male, western populations have a better attitude than eastern, and people who have relative with a history of TB have a better attitude. People with high degree education have a better practice than others and people who have relative with a history of TB have a better practice.
Conclusion: Eastern and western region in Saudi Arabia have a very poor knowledge and Attitude towards TB, and Western populations have better attitude compared to that of Eastern. Participants have high percentage of a good practice which still needs to be improved Level of education is an important factor that may control the level of knowledge about TB.

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