Table 3 Common Misconceptions about TB among Immigrant Students in Umeå Swedish-Language Schools (N = 268).
Items inaccurately identified as correct by respondents | Number of "Yes" answers* (%) |
|---|---|
TB is caused by a virus | 120 (44.8) |
TB is transmitted through: | |
Sharing dishes/kitchen utensils | 143 (53.4) |
Sharing cigarettes | 140 (52.2) |
Blood transfusion | 132 (49.3) |
Breastfeeding | 121(45.2) |
Hugs | 65 (24.3) |
TB cannot spread to other people if a diseased person: | |
Laughs | 109 (40.7) |
Sings | 109 (40.7) |
Speaks | 97 (36.2) |
Persons not at increased risk of TB: | |
Diabetic patients | 87 (32.5) |
Health care workers | 77 (28.7) |
Persons with Cancer | 76 (28.4) |
A short-lived cough (one-two weeks) is a symptom of TB disease | 144 (53.7) |
A positive skin test without symptoms suggests: | |
A need for curative treatment | 168 (62.7) |
Infectious TB | 138 (51.5) |
Active TB disease | 123 (45.9) |
No previous vaccination | 69 (25.8) |
TB patients remain infectious two to three weeks after beginning treatment | 161 (60.1) |
Everyone infected with TB bacteria: | |
Can spread TB to others | 182 (67.9) |
Become sick | 175 (65.3) |
Have symptoms | 143 (53.4) |
Key methods to prevent the spread of TB: | |
Forbid sick people to eat from the same plate as other family members | 177 (66.1) |
Stay away from everyone who coughs | 159 (59.3) |