Abstract

An increase in the incidence of tuberculosis has been observed in prison populations. A descriptive cross sectional study was designed to assess the knowledge of tuberculosis among sick prisoners. Patients were interviewed using a questionnaire. Sixty per cent of those interviewed had been in prison for periods ranging from 1 to 5 years. About half of the patients interviewed were not aware that they could be having tuberculosis before they were diagnosed. Ninety percent of those who were aware that they could be having tuberculosis got the knowledge from other inmates and the media (radio and television). Most of the prisoners suffering from tuberculosis did not know the causative agent although about one third said tuberculosis was transmitted by air contaminated with germs. Some patients associated fever, cough, night sweats, weight loss and chest pain with tuberculosis. Successful therapy of tuberculosis in prisoners can be achieved if adequate health education is given to all prisoners and this should be coupled with improvement in prison health services.

Keywords: Tuberculosis, prisons, Dar es Salaam