This study was conducted to determine the literacy level of TB DOTS patient on TB disease and TB treatment to identifying TB literacy gaps in the hope of contributing to prevention efforts of MDR TB.The sample consisted of 101 participants who were diagnosed as having PTB and receiving care and PTB medicine through the 4 DOTS facility under Baliwasan district, Zamboanga City. The DOTS facility is located in 4 barangay health centers (Baliwasan interior, Star Apple, San Jose Gusu, and Campo Islam). The diverse sample consisted of 67 males and 34 females of who 58% were Tausug, 18% Bisaya18% Chavacano, and 6% are composed of Sama, Maguindanao, and Ilocano. The average age is 43 with a range of 18–73 years of age. Approximately half of the respondents (54.5%) were able to reached secondary education, 31.7% had primary education, 3% graduated from a vocational course and 11% did not have any education.For the health literacy level on PTB disease, only 24% of the respondents have adequate health literacy level on knowledge domain, 45% have marginal health literacy and 32% have inadequate literacy level. Sixty-fivepercent have adequate health literacy on comprehension domain for PTB disease, 9% are considered to have marginal and 26%have inadequate health literacy. For application domain, 36% are considered to have adequate health literacy, 29% have marginal health literacy and 36% have inadequate health literacy.For the health literacy level on PTB treatment, more than half (60%) of the respondents have adequate health literacy on knowledge domain, 36% have marginal and 4% have inadequate health literacy. For comprehension domain on PTB treatment, 70% have adequate health literacy, 21% have marginal literacy level and 9% have inadequate literacy level. On application domain on PTB treatment, 69% have adequate health literacy level and 31% have inadequate health literacy level.Based on the different health literacy levels on PTB disease and PTB treatment it can be postulated that there is presence of PTB gap on the knowledge domain and application domain of PTB disease. Intervention can then be focus on this PTB gap improving the patient’s health outcome thereby contributing to prevention efforts of MDR-TB.

Keyword: Literacy level PTB patients enrolled at TB DOTS