Knowledge and health seeking behaviour among tuberculosis patients at Atas clinic, Kuching

Tuberculosis (TB) remains the major public health problems and a leading cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. In 2010, incidence of TB (per 100,000 people) in Malaysia was last reported at 82 (World Bank Report, 2012). The notification rate is still high, for example in Sarawak, in 2003 the rate was 79.9 per 100,000 population, about twice the national target, 40 per 100,000 population. Sarawak is ranked third in Malaysia despite gradual decline since 2001 (Sarawak State Health Department, 2004) This was a cross-sectional research to determine socio-demographic characteristics, level of TB knowledge and health seeking behaviour of TB patients at ATAS clinic, Kuching. A convenient sample of 220 data among the TB patients attended ATAS clinic were collected using structured questionnaires by face to face interview. The questionnaires were pre-tested in the non-sampled area. The results from this study showed that the TB was more commonly seen in married male, working adult, malay with secondary school educational background. The level of TB knowledge was poor in elderly (>70 year old), unemployed and primary school of educational background. The health seeking behaviour showed most of the respondents preferred government facilities in their treatment of choice, however there was delayed in seeking initial treatment. There were significant difference of health seeking behaviour and level of TB knowledge among the respondents. Therefore, the awareness of the disease among community still need to be increased and the public health sectors need to strengthen the health programmes and activities to combat the disease