Knowledge and Practice Pattern of Non-allopathic Indigenous Medical Practitioners Regarding Tuberculosis in a Rural Area of India

Objective: To assess the knowledge and practice patterns of non-allopathic indigenous medical practitioners (IMPs) regarding tuberculosis (TB).

Methods: Seventy-four IMPs practising in Naraingarh block, a rural area of Haryana State, India, were interviewed using a semi-structured interview schedule.

Results: Fifty-four per cent (40/74) of the IMPs saw two to five TB patients every month. Sixty-one per cent (46/74) reported that they based their diagnosis of TB on symptoms alone, whereas 38% use diagnostic tests such as chest X-ray, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and sputum examination. Forty per cent of the IMPs reported that alcohol was the cause of TB, 36.5% cited smoking and 17.6% reported infection as the cause. Only 34% (25/74) of IMPs reported that they treated TB patients, while the rest said that they referred such cases to nearby hospitals. Anti-tuberculosis drugs used by IMPs were isoniazid, rifampicin and streptomycin, but none of them knew the dosage of the drugs, the duration of treatment or the correct regimen. Sixty-four per cent of the 25 IMPs reported using ayurvedic medicines.

Conclusion: Considerable proportions of TB patients seek IMPs for cure of TB, while the knowledge and practice of IMPs is inadequate.