Introduction: Of different methods of disease prevention, health education and awareness programmes can empower people regarding several aspects of disease management and thereby enabling them in accessing the right treatment, in right time, at right place.
Aim: The aim of this study was to assess the impact of a structured Tuberculosis (TB) awareness strategy on the knowledge and behaviour of slum dwellers of Durg, Chhattisgarh, India.
Materials and methods: A TB awareness intervention was implemented in terms of informing the houses of marginalized and vulnerable communities about TB, its symptoms, diagnosis, treatment and Revised National TB Control Program (RNTCP) services and the impact of the same was assessed through a survey questionnaire before and after the implementation of the intervention.
Results: Of the knowledge components the improvement was incurred above 90% among the study participants in all components except in two components such as; modes of TB transmission and availability of free treatment facilities. In the behavioural segment, after the implementation of the awareness strategy, 53% and 92% of the respondents reported to visit government health facility for seeking help for their general and TB related problems respectively. Similarly the responses regarding not approaching the government health facility for TB care were changed after the implementation of the awareness strategy and 36% of the respondents said they would prefer to visit government health facility for TB care.
Conclusion: Health education activities should be directed to improve the knowledge of slum dwellers regarding the modes of TB transmission and availability of free treatment at public health facilities.
Keywords: Health behaviour; Health education; Vulnerable and marginalized population.