Objective - To study the perceptions on cure regarding tuberculosis (TB) among the employees working in Adi
dravidar and Tribal Welfare department, Government of Tamil Nadu.
Design - An interview schedule was used to collect the socio-economic characteristics of the respondents and
the data on their knowledge on symptoms, cause, mode of infection, diagnosis, treatment for TB and their
perceptions on cure were collected.
Results - Among the 71 employees working in the Tamil Nadu government welfare origination, only ninety two
percent of them have heard of the disease called TB. Forty three percent reported that cough as the main
symptom, 37% reported TB was caused by germs. Out of 97% who were aware there was treatment available for
TB, only 72% reported TB was curable. Disappearance of symptoms (12%) and feeling alright (25%) were
perceived as the cure of TB. Only 26% reported completing the treatment for the prescribed period as cure of TB.
Misconceptions reported on cure of TB were abstaining from smoking (95%), from alcohol (89%) from sex (17%)
and tobacco (98%).
Conclusions - This study suggests for strengthening the need to educate the community in general and the
other government sector in specific on symptoms and cure of TB