Background: Tuberculosis remains a significant threat to global public health, despite
advancements in treatment and detection in recent decades. Treatment regimens are unpleasant
and time-consuming, particularly when the disease-causing strain is partially or completely drugresistant.
Approximately one-third of the global population is currently infected with
tuberculosis, but the majority of these cases are dormant and non-contagious. These dormant
cases are more difficult to diagnose, but if the immune system is compromised, as in the case of
HIV/AIDS, the individual will transition to an active and contagious case of tuberculosis.
Resistant strains are increasing around the world, making treatment of a potential future drugresistant
tuberculosis pandemic all the more difficult.
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to examine the relationship between trends in tuberculosis
prevalence, and community education regarding the nature of the disease. This study analyzes
data collected in the West African nation of Ghana, which is considered to have a high-burden
tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS epidemic. The study period is between 2008 and 2014, and
examines the relationship between accuracy of tuberculosis education and trends in tuberculosis
prevalence, over that time period.
Methods: This secondary data analysis used data from the Ghana Demographic and Health
Survey, performed by the United States Agency for International Development. SPSS statistical
software was used to relate tuberculosis prevalence numbers to correctness of tuberculosisrelated
responses in the Ashanti, Eastern and Northern regions of Ghana.
Results: Data analysis indicates limited improvement in correctness of tuberculosis-related
education in the three districts, between 2008 and 2014. Ordinal regression indicates a weak or
negligible difference in correctness of responses between the three districts under study.
Conclusion: While the DHS survey data is extensive, only a small proportion of the survey
questions are related to tuberculosis knowledge. In addition, the data did not support a strong
relationship between community levels of education, and tuberculosis prevalence trends.