Knowledge and Awareness of Tuberculosis among High School Students of Mysore City

Background: Community awareness in general and young generation in particular is of vital importance in combating tuberculosis a public health problem in our country has been highlighted from various studies across the country. Objectives: To assess the knowledge about tuberculosis among high school students of Mysore city. Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out to assess the knowledge about tuberculosis among 129 students studying in 9 th 10 th standard of two high Schools in Mysore city selected by cluster sampling. Results: 81% knew TB was caused by bacteria, 85% mentioned it spreads from person to person, 78%, 72% and 54% knew cough as the main symptom, sputum test is the diagnostic test and treatment was for 6-9 months respectively. 54% students mentioned television as main source of information. Conclusion: knowledge about disease causation, manifestation and cough hygiene was good, but limited knowledge with respect to management domain and TB risk in HIV patients and patient care and discrimination towards TB patients. Only 65% of students knew the increased lifetime risk of acquiring TB in HIV positive patients calls for a need to emphasis this risk factor in educational interventional programme.