Year: 2026 | Month: July-September | Volume: 11 | Issue: 3 | Pages: 126-134
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/gijhsr.20260315
Study to Assess the Knowledge and Practices Regarding Tuberculosis Prevention and Treatment among High-Risk Population at Selected Areas of Jalgaon District
Manorama Kashyap1, Neha Ingle2, Kajal Gathe3, Priyanka Gavai4
1Professor, Cum HOD Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, 2,3Tutor, 4Assistant Professor
Department of Medical Surgical Nursing, Godavari College of Nursing, Jalgaon, India. Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Nashik
Corresponding Author: Manorama Kashyap
ABSTRACT
Tuberculosis (TB) is a preventable and curable disease, but it remains highly prevalent among people living in urban and rural slums, where overcrowding, poverty, and limited access to health care favour transmission. The presence of comorbid conditions such as diabetes mellitus, chronic lung disease, under nutrition, and substance use further increases the risk of infection, progression to active TB, and poor treatment outcomes in these communities. Despite on-going TB control activities, gaps in knowledge and sub‑optimal preventive and treatment practices among slum dwellers continue to hinder early diagnosis, adherence, and infection control. This nursing research study aims to assess the knowledge and practices regarding TB prevention and treatment among high-risk population especially adults residing in selected slums, including those with comorbid diseases. The study found that 78% of participants had average knowledge, 17% had good knowledge, and 5% had poor knowledge regarding tuberculosis prevention and treatment. Regarding practices, 46% demonstrated moderate practices, 43% had good practices, and 11% had poor practices. Educational level showed a statistically significant association with both knowledge and practice scores (p<0.05). A strong positive correlation (r = 0.72, p<0.001) was observed between knowledge and practices, indicating that better knowledge was associated with better preventive and treatment practices. Although most participants demonstrated average knowledge and satisfactory practices, important knowledge gaps and inadequate preventive practices still exist. Continuous community-based health education, awareness programmes, early screening, and counselling should be strengthened to improve tuberculosis prevention and treatment practices among high-risk populations.
Keywords: Tuberculosis, Knowledge, Practice, Prevention, Treatment, High-risk population