Assessment of Clients’ Knowledge, Attitude, Practice and Associated Factors on Tuberculosis at Yejube Health Center, Northwest Ethiopia

Muluken Wubetu

doi:10.19026/ajms.10.5985

Abstract

The objective of this study is to asses clients knowledge, attitude, practice and associated factors towards tuberculosis in Yejube health center Northwest Ethiopia. Institution based cross-sectional study was conducted at Yejube health center among 392 individuals from March to June 2017. Data were analyzed mannually. Descriptive statistics was used to determine level of practice and its predictors. Out of the total 83.2% of respondents said that they heard about TB. Around 70.4% had awareness that TB can be transmitted through air droplet and knew cough (36.4%) was the most commonly stated symptom of TB while modern drugs used in health institution (80.7%) was the preferred choice of treatment. Similarly, 81.8% said that they would seek treatment at health facility if they had symptoms related to TB and 32.1% experience fear if themselves had TB. Individuals with educational level unable to read and write had poor level of practice on TB prevention compared to college and above. Individuals having poor attitude towards TB are also greater than those of having poor practice to having good attitude and individuals having poor knowledge towards TB has higher than having poor practice to having good knowledge. Most patients had little information about the cause of TB, transmission, prevention and associated factors. Level of practice is affected by poor attitude, poor knowledge. Therefore, it needs a strategy directed to bring a significant change in their attitude and knowledge towards patient with TB.

Highlights

Tuberculosis (TB) is a communicable disease caused by the bacteria, Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (MTB) in humans and may affect several organs within the body
Majority (71.7%) of those who have heard of tuberculosis mentioned, about possible modes of transmission were through air, while 5.6% said that it is transmitted through contact with someone who had TB
The finding is similar to the results of studies from Gambella Region (41.9%)(MunozSellart et al, 2010) and East Amhara (66.6%) (Kolappan et al, 2008), but higher than the results of studies conducted in Nigeria where majority of the respondants heared about tuberculosis from radio (60%) (Esmael et al, 2013) and higher than the results obtained from India where majority of clients informed for tuberculosis from neighbours (50.5)

Summary

Introduction

Tuberculosis (TB) is a communicable disease caused by the bacteria, Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (MTB) in humans and may affect several organs within the body. Drug-sensitive TB disease is treated with a standard six-month course of four antimicrobial drugs that are provided with information, supervision and support to the patient by a health worker or trained volunteer. Without such supervision and support, treatment adherence can be difficult and the disease can spread. Avoiding the risk factor play a major role in preventing TB. These factors include overcrowding, malnutrition, personal hygiene, smoking, retroviral infection, drug users and so on (Chaisson and Martinson, 2008; Hoa et al, 2009; WHO, 2007). In addition this study will be used as abase line for further research and researchers in the field

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Conclusion