Tuberculosis Screening Perception of Household Contact of Tuberculosis Patients in Nakhon Si Thammarat Province

Abstract

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) screening constitutes a crucial element in TB management, particularly among populations at heightened risk, such as household contacts (HHCs) of TB patients. Methods: This cross-sectional analytical study, conducted in the significant context of Nakhon Si Thammarat province, examined the perceptions of TB screening and associated factors among HHCs. A random sampling of 310 volunteers was from 4 districts of Nakhon Si Thammarat province. Data were gathered through a questionnaire and analyzed using descriptive statistics and Pearson correlation. Results: Most respondents were female (70 %), with an average age of 43 (SD = 13.23). Chest X-ray screening had been undergone by 41.03 % of household contacts. Notably, a significant proportion (58.06 %) demonstrated a heightened perception regarding the importance of TB screening for health. Analysis revealed significant associations between TB screening and various factors, including perceived susceptibility (r = 0.40), severity (r = 0.22), threat (r = 0.15), benefits (r = 0.33), barriers (r = −0.03), and cues to action (r = 0.30) at p < 0.05. Conclusion: This study’s findings underscore the critical role of health perception in influencing TB screening uptake among HHCs and provide clear recommendations for TB control organizations to address the identified perception gaps.