ASSOCIATION OF KNOWLEDGE AND PREVENTIVE BEHAVIOR WITH PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS: A CASE-CONTROL STUDY AT SASI COMMUNITY HEALTH CENTER

Abstract

Pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) poses a significant public health challenge in Indonesia. This study aimed to analyze the relationship between knowledge and preventive behaviors and the incidence of pulmonary TB in the working area of the Sasi Community Health Center (Puskesmas). Employing a case-control design with 106 respondents (53 cases and 53 controls), data were collected via structured questionnaires and analyzed using the Chi-Square test. The results showed that all respondents (100%) possessed a good level of knowledge. However, a significant difference was observed regarding behavior: 17% of respondents in the case group exhibited poor preventive behaviors, compared to 0% in the control group. Bivariate analysis revealed no association between knowledge and pulmonary TB incidence (p = 0.106), whereas a significant association was found between preventive behaviors and pulmonary TB incidence (p = 0.003). Good knowledge does not always correlate directly with appropriate preventive behavior. Future health interventions should focus more on practical behavioral changes rather than merely improving health literacy.