[Analysis of the awareness rate and correlates of core information on tuberculosis prevention and control in elderly in Chinese].

ABSTRACT

Objective: To understand the awareness and influencing factors of core information on tuberculosis prevention and control in the elderly population in China. Methods: The study included all participants aged ≥60 from the "13th Five-Year" National Tuberculosis Control Plan end-term assessment in 2020, with 13 706 valid questionnaires obtained. Multivariate logistic regression was used to analyze the influencing factors of the awareness rate of core information on tuberculosis prevention and control in the elderly. Results: The total awareness rate of core information on tuberculosis prevention and control in the elderly aged ≥60 was 78.4%, with the highest for "suspicious symptoms of pulmonary tuberculosis" (85.4%) and the lowest for "whether pulmonary tuberculosis can be cured" (65.3%). The complete awareness rate of core information on tuberculosis prevention and control in the elderly was 41.3%, and the proportion of those who received tuberculosis health education is 67.6%. Multivariate logistic regression analysis results showed that factors associated with low awareness of core information included females (OR=0.93, 95%CI 0.86-1.00), ages 70- (OR=0.91, 95%CI 0.84-0.98) and ≥80 (OR=0.77, 95%CI 0.68-0.87) and minority ethnicity (OR=0.85, 95%CI 0.74-0.99). Factors associated with high awareness of core information included educational levels of junior high school (OR=1.46, 95%CI 1.34-1.58), high school (OR=1.62, 95%CI 1.45-1.81), junior college (OR=1.37, 95%CI 1.11-1.68), and an undergraduate degree or higher (OR=1.52, 95%CI 1.09-2.11), and receiving tuberculosis health education (OR=2.13, 95%CI 1.97-2.27). Conclusions: In 2020, the awareness rate of core information on tuberculosis prevention and control in Chinese older adults aged ≥60 was lower than the national planning target. Therefore, there should be an increased focus on health education about tuberculosis for elderly females, those aged ≥70, ethnic minorities, and those with lower education levels.