Investigation of Knowledge and Perception of Tuberculosis Among Hispanics in Utah County, Utah

• Published in: Journal of immigrant and minority health 2017-02, Vol.19 (1), p.147-154
• Main Authors: Boulter, Tyler, Moran, Solanda, Moxley, Victor, Cole, Eugene C.
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; At Risk Persons; Communities; Community; Community Relations; Comparative Law; Content Validity; Cough reflex; Counties; Cultural Relevance; Demographics; Disease transmission; Dissemination; Education; Educational programs; Female; Females; Focus Groups; Health; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Hispanic Americans; Hispanic Americans - statistics & numerical data; Hispanic people; Humans; Immigrants; Informed Consent; International & Foreign Law; Intervention; Knowledge; Latin American cultural groups; Living conditions; Lungs; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Minority & ethnic groups; Mycobacterium; Noncitizens; Online Surveys; ORIGINAL PAPER; Perception; Perceptions; Population; Printed materials; Private International Law; Protective factors; Public Health; Quality Assurance; Quality Control; Risk analysis; Risk Factors; Socioeconomic Factors; Sociology; Software; Spanish language; Statistical analysis; Symptoms; Tuberculosis; Tuberculosis - ethnology; Utah; Vaccines; Validity; Women; Womens health; Young Adult
• ISSN: 1557-1912; 1557-1920
• DOI: 10.1007/s10903-015-0316-8

This study aimed to assess extent of knowledge and perceptions of TB within the growing Hispanic community of Utah County, Utah, and the need for focused community educational intervention within that demographic. A mixed-method approach was used and included a survey of 166 adult males and females, and two focus groups with Hispanic women. TB was better known for its ability to kill (92.8 %) than for being contagious (64.5 %); while most knew that TB mainly affects the lungs (77.7 %) and is spread through coughing (75.3 %). Few believed that overcrowded living conditions were a risk factor for TB (30.1 %). Many believed that TB could be cured with medicine (75.3 %). And 65.7 % reported they had been tested for TB, and 7 % had been told by a doctor they had TB. Focus group data showed while most had knowledge of major TB symptoms, some had key misperceptions about disease transmission, testing, TB vaccine, and various protective factors. Enhanced education and dissemination of information on TB, to include an emphasis on symptoms, testing, and treatment within this demographic is recommended. A culturally-appropriate intervention should utilize a participatory approach, to include the local health department in partnership with various Hispanic community-based organizations.