Abstract: Objective  To analyze status quo of tuberculosis (TB) related knowledge, attitude and practice in middle school students and provide evidences for TB health education intervention.  Methods  Three epidemiological survey sites where lots of active TB cases were found and two adjacent counties were selected in Sichuan, Guizhou and Yunnan province. One senior high school was purposively sampled in each county, and two classes in grade 2 of each school were randomly sampled. A self-designed questionnaire investigation concerning TB core information, TB related attitude, practice and health education was conducted among all students in the 10 classes selected. 443 questionnaires were sent out while 437(98.6%) recovered. General awareness rate, awareness rate of each message, attitude distribution and score were calculated.  Results  General awareness rate of the 10 TB related messages was 54.3% (2375/4370). Awareness rates of TB healthcare strategy and hazard were low, in which was 23.9% (209/874) and 23.8% (104/437) respectively. The median score was 6 (P₂₅=4, P₇₅=7). 7.0% (30/430) of the students would conceal the facts if getting TB, 21.2% (91/430) would keep away from TB patients, and 0.5% (2/430) would not contact with TB patients. 65.7% (287/437) of the students were never proactive in knowing TB knowledge, whereas 96.3% (420/436) thought it necessary to carry out TB health education in school.  Conclusion  Students in the western region of China had poor TB knowledge and negative attitudes. Collaboration of health and education departments and comprehensive methods of information spread were needed to improve the situation.

Key words: Tuberculosis, pulmonary/prevention &, control, Awareness, Health education, Students, Questionnaires