Development and Evaluation of Promoting Tuberculosis Preventive Behaviors among Migrant Workers with Bacteriologically Confirmed Pulmonary Tuberculosis Disease and Household Contacts in Chiang Rai, Thailand

Abstract

The Development and Evaluation of Promoting Tuberculosis Preventive Behaviors among Migrant Workers with Bacteriologically Confirmed Pulmonary Tuberculosis Disease and Household Contacts in Chiang Rai, Thailand.

Palita Chareonsuk, B.N.S.*, Phitsanuruk Kantathawee, Ph.D.*

ABSTRACT

BACKGROUND

          World health organization ranks Thailand as one of 14 countries with the highest burdens of tuberculosis, tuberculosis co-infection, and multidrug-resistant tuberculosis. In the northern border area which is Chiang Rai, new TB cases were found to be higher than the national level. Therefore, patients and household contacts are important populations that should be educated and monitored to prevent the spread of the infection.

OBJECTIVE

          To study, develop, and evaluate preventive behaviors among bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary Tuberculosis migrant workers and household contacts in Chiang Rai.

METHODOLOGY

          This study was processed in the Research and Development study design with 2 of the groups of participants including population group 83 pulmonary Tuberculosis with household contacts (total n = 360) and controlled group 45 pulmonary Tuberculosis with household contacts (total n = 180) that were gathered from “National Tuberculosis Information Program” Ministry of Public Health Thailand. Sample size was calculated through G*Power version 3.1¹ The instruments for the information collecting were divided into 3 parts including general information, perception by health belief model and preventive behaviors pf pulmonary disease migrant workers with bacteriologically confirmed and household contacts, the data gathered would be analyzed by descriptive statistics with the findings include frequency, percent, mean and standard deviation.

RESULTS

          The study was separated into 3 phases, in the first phase, 3 parts of questionnaires were picked the process, the first group of a total of 360 participants was found to that mostly from Chiang Rai Prachanukroh Hospital (27.2%), Burmese (61.9%), and female (52.2%). Part 2 is the evaluation in the perception by health belief model; perceived susceptibility, perceived severity, perceived benefits and perceived barriers, the results turned out mostly negative with the level of perception need to be improved (= 1.86, SD = 0.60) and part 3 of the instrument was the preventive behaviors of the patients and household contacts, the results turned out as the level of preventive behaviors need to be improved (= 2.39, SD = 0.67). After that control group of 180 participants were picked up to evaluate and receive health education, in the perception by health belief model the results after received health education seemed better in the fair level of perception (Before= 1.87, SD = 0.61/ After= 2.54, SD = 0.15) and for preventive behaviors were also improved into the good level of behaviors (Before= 2.33, SD = 0.68/ After= 3.74, SD = 0.44)

CONCLUSION AND DISCUSSION

          The average of the level of perception by health belief model of the participants before and after received health education found that after health educated, participants were totally improved with statistically significant (p-value < 0.001), for the preventive behaviors, participants also improved in this point with statistically significant (p-value < 0.001). Overall results came out at the satisfying level as the objectives set, also the study even the methods or results can be used for the benefits in the future.

KEYWORDS    Pulmonary tuberculosis, Migrant workers, Household contact, Health Belief Model