Background: In India, Tuberculosis (TB) is a major public health problem since ages. Awareness about the disease and transmission, its diagnosis and treatment among community will help in controlling the notorious disease. So, periodic assessment of the awareness regarding TB will help in control of disease. Objectives: To assess awareness regarding symptoms, causes,spread, and treatment of TB in a rural area of North Kerala. Materials and Methods: A community based cross sectional study was conducted in rural field practice area of a medical college in North Kerala. The sample size calculated was 240. Convenient sampling method was used for the sampling. By visiting homes, data was collected from the adults aged >18 years by using pretested semistructured selfadministered questionnaire in local language. The descriptive statistics and chisquare test were used for analysis. Results: Out of 240 people, almost all heard about TB. About 90% were aware that cough is a symptom of TB, 90% know that TB can spread from one person to another and 87% said cough as one of the important mode of spread. Regarding, diagnosis of TB, 84% said availability of test and 77% of the subjects were aware of the free treatment in government health centres. About 74% were willing to share the status of TB to family and friends. Around 90% told they will dispose the sputum safely. Conclusion: Knowledge, attitude and practice about TB among study population was good. Awareness about availablity of diagnostic test, usage of hand kerchief or cloth during coughing and free treatment has to stress during health education activities.

Keywords: Awareness; Tuberculosis; Rural Population; North Kerala.