Gaps in Infection Control Practices of Tuberculosis Among the Patients Attending Designated Microscopy Centre (DMC): Mixed Method Study

Introduction: The purpose of the study was to find the knowledge, attitude, and practice of infection control of tuberculosis among presumptive tuberculosis cases and the infection control practices actually followed by tuberculosis (TB) patients from the Tuberculosis Health Visitor (TBHV). Material and Methods: An exploratory sequential design constituting of quantitative methods (Hospital based cross sectional survey) among Presumptive TB cases referred to DMC centre followed by qualitative methods (Focus Group Discussion [FGD]) with TBHV was used. Results: Out of 422 Presumptive TB cases participated in the study, 305 (72.3%) were males and 117 (27.7%) were females. The mean age of the respondents was 52.03 (±15.77 standard deviation [SD]) years and 202 (47.9%) were illiterate. About, 195 (46.4%) participants were able to demonstrate good cough etiquette and 167 (39.6%) knew how to dispose sputum. In multiple logistic regression analysis used to identify independent variables that predict the practice of demonstration of cough, the odds of demonstrating correct cough etiquette is significantly higher: 1.02 times (CI: 1.01-1.03), 1.91 times (CI: 1.08-3.37) and 1.429 (CI: 1.05-1.94) in participants of age less than 45 years, those who have completed primary education, and those who have the habit of using a hand kerchief while coughing respectively, when compared to their counterparts. Conclusion: The advocacy communication strategies related to infection control should be focussed at school level and also to immediate care givers and household members of the pulmonary TB and presumptive TB patients.