Knowledge, attitude and practice regarding leprosy and tuberculosis in Bangladesh

A small survey was carried out in two areas of northern Bangladesh to asses s and compare the level of knowledge, attitude and practice towards leprosy and tuberculosis (TB) among two communities that differed widely in the am ount of health education received about these diseases. The results indicat e that without a health education programme, levels of knowledge about the cause and treatability of the diseases are poor, worse for leprosy than TB, with correspondingly negative attitudes. Only 16% of the respondents in th e 'uninformed' area mentioned 'skin patch' in a question about what they kn ew about leprosy; and only 44% mentioned 'cough' as a symptom of TB. In the area that had received health education, 90% mentioned, respectively,'skin patch' and 'cough'. Seventy-eight percent of the respondents would not buy goods from a shopkeeper known to have leprosy, 76% if he had TB in the uni nformed area; but in the community who had received health education the pr oportions were reversed, with three-quarters agreeing to purchase from a di seased shopkeeper. The implications of these findings for the DBLM and Nati onal Health Education programmes are discussed.