Results of Tuberculosis Symptom Screening and Factors Associated with Tuberculosis Infection Prevention Behavior among Myanmar Migrant Workers in Samut Sakhon Province, Thailand

Abstract

Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) is caused by Mycobacterium tuberculosis and can be transmitted from person to another through inhalation of the pathogen into the body. TB remains a significant problem health in Thailand and other countries in the world. This cross-sectional analytical study aimed to (1) screen people with suspected pulmonary tuberculosis symptoms and (2) determine factors associated with preventive behavior of pulmonary tuberculosis among migrant workers in Samut Sakhon Province. The sample consisted of 246 Myanmar migrant workers selected by simple random sampling. Research instruments included a self-developed questionnaire and a pulmonary TB symptom screening form of the Department of Disease Control, Ministry of Public Health. Data were collected between May and June 2025. Percentages were used to analyze the prevalence of risk for pulmonary tuberculosis. Pearson’s correlation coefficient was conducted to identify factors associated with preventive behavior of pulmonary tuberculosis. The results showed that 12.20 percent was at risk of pulmonary tuberculosis and factors associated with preventive behavior at the 0.05 level of significant included body mass index (r=0.13, p=0.03), knowledge of pulmonary TB (r=0.28, p<0.01) and attitudes toward TB prevention (r=0.15, p=0.01) with all correlations at a low level. The study recommended that public health authorities should implement regular surveillance and screening programs for TB risk among migrant workers, along with continuous diagnostic referral systems. Furthermore, educational interventions to enhance knowledge and promote positive attitudes are encouraged, due to their correlations with disease prevention behaviors.