Aim: to evaluate the understanding, the attitudes, and the practices of relatives of inmates regarding tuberculosis, and to evaluate the association between their understanding and the socio-demographical characteristics of this population. Method: this is a transversal descriptive study involving 95 family members of inmates. Data collection took place between June and July 2015, in a civil police station in the state of Paraná. Results: the majority of the interviewees (86%) reported that

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... had heard about the illness, and 71% showed little understanding regarding tuberculosis. No association was found between understanding the illness and socio-demographical and health conditions. Participants reported feelings of fear and shame in the case of contamination, and a desire to learn more about tuberculosis. Conclusion: the results reinforce the need for educational interventions for the evaluated population.