Función de la educación sanitaria en la lucha antituberculosa

Abstract

In this paper the author traces the development of tuberculosis control in Texas through the use of a new tool: popular education of the patient and his family, of students and teachers especially those of health and physical education, of the press and radio, and of the legislature. Being a highly contagious disease peculiar to the poorest strata of society, the treatment for which is very slow and sometimes lasts a lifetime, tuberculosis can only be controlled, before it occurs, by preventive measures. That calls for awareness and vigilance on the part of all, that is, everyone must know what tuberculosis is, what its social and health effects are, and they must be determined to bar its path. The task of merging this knowledge and determination is incumbent on health education, which should be carried out by public health officers, physicians, nurses, teachers, journalists, radio announcers. Of course, the orchestration and inspiration of this vast effort call for very high quality health educators, as is shown by the example of Texas, the subject of this study