Loh Shin Yee, Zakaria Rosnani, Mohamad Noraini
Universiti Sains Malaysia School of Medical Sciences, Department of Family Medicine, Kubang Kerian, Malaysia.
Universiti Sains Malaysia School of Dental Sciences, Kubang Kerian, Malaysia.
Medeni Med J. 2023 Mar 28;38(1):45-53. doi: 10.4274/MMJ.galenos.2023.14478.
Tuberculosis (TB) is an old disease and it has infected millions of people worldwide. Since it is a highly infectious disease, many people became TB contact due to prolonged exposure to a person with TB infection. This group of people is at a higher risk of getting latent and active TB infection, hence a vulnerable group for active TB screening. This study explored the factors that determined the attitude score, the level of knowledge, attitude, and stigma (KAS) regarding TB disease among TB contact.
This cross-sectional study used a validated KAS questionnaire, performed among 338 TB contacts from 5 health clinics in Kedah, Malaysia. The respondents were selected via convenience sampling. Simple and multiple linear regressions were used to analyze the data.
The mean KAS scores of participants are 73.5% [standard deviation (SD)=17.06], 83.0% (SD=10.33), and 67.0% (SD=16.72), respectively. Higher income (p=0.001), better knowledge score (p<0.001), and higher stigma score (p=0.003) are the significant associated factors for the attitude score.
This study revealed that most of the TB contacts have good knowledge and constructive attitude toward TB prevention and screening, but their level of stigma on TB is high. The implementation of TB education and intervention programs among TB contacts are required especially among low-income groups.
结核病是一种古老的疾病，已在全球感染了数百万人。由于它是一种高度传染性疾病，许多人因长期接触结核病感染者而成为结核病接触者。这群人感染潜伏性和活动性结核病的风险更高，因此是活动性结核病筛查的弱势群体。本研究探讨了决定结核病接触者对结核病疾病的态度得分、知识、态度和耻辱感（KAS）水平的因素。
这项横断面研究使用了一份经过验证的KAS问卷，对马来西亚吉打州5家健康诊所的338名结核病接触者进行了调查。通过便利抽样选择受访者。使用简单和多元线性回归分析数据。
参与者的平均KAS得分分别为73.5%[标准差（SD）=17.06]、83.0%（SD=10.33）和67.0%（SD=16.72）。较高的收入（p=0.001）、较好的知识得分（p<0.001）和较高的耻辱感得分（p=0.003）是态度得分的显著相关因素。
本研究表明，大多数结核病接触者对结核病预防和筛查有良好的知识和建设性态度，但他们对结核病的耻辱感水平较高。需要在结核病接触者中实施结核病教育和干预项目，特别是在低收入群体中。
