Association of Mothers’ Pediatric Tuberculosis Knowledge and Attitudes with Health Seeking Practices in Kapsabet Referral Hospital, Nandi County, Kenya

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is in the top rank of causes of pediatric morbidity and mortality. In 2017, approximately 1 million children were infected with the disease and 230,000 died. In Kenya, tuberculosis is number 4 on the causes of death with 6.3% of total deaths. Nandi County is one of the counties affected with Kapsabet Referral Hospital having a substantial number of cases for ages 0-14 years. The objective of the study was to assess the association of mothers’ pediatric tuberculosis knowledge and attitudes with health seeking practices in Kapsabet Referral Hospital, Nandi County, Kenya. A cross-sectional research design was used to do the study and data collected using Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices (KAP) questionnaires based on World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines. Mothers attending Maternal Child Health (MCH) clinic having children aged 0-14 years were the target population. Purposive and systematic random sampling were employed and sample calculated using Rao soft online calculator. SPSS version 25.0 was used for analysis that is, descriptive statistics (frequency distribution tables, Pearson chi-square test, odds ratio) and multinomial logistic regression. Results were reported as statistically significant if p-values< 0.05. Results showed that mothers with children more than 2 (adj OR, 1.18; 95% CI, 0.69 to 2.05) and those with regular income (adj OR, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.67 to 1.72) were more likely to have good knowledge. Those with higher levels of education (adj OR, 1.19; 95% CI, 0.75 to 1.88), Christians (adj OR, 3.16; 95% CI, 0.84 to 11.88), and those with regular income (adj OR, 1.08; 95% CI, 0.67 to 1.72) were more likely to have positive attitudes. Most respondents 343 (97.2%) would seek health care in a health facility. Employment (adj OR, 0.55, 95% CI: 0.32-0.93, P value < 0.05) was statistically significant to overall mothers’ knowledge on pediatric TB. Age of mothers (adj OR: 0.70, 95% CI: 0.43-1.12, P value < 0.05) and number of children (adj OR, 0.57, 95% CI: 0.32-0.99, P value < 0.05) were statistically significant to overall pediatric TB attitudes of respondents. While Education (P value < 0.05) was statistically significant to overall health seeking practices. Those with good knowledge (OR: 1.83, 95% CI: 0.16-20.48) and positive attitudes (OR: 1.22, 95% CI: 0.11-13.65) were more likely to seek health care in a health facility as compared to visiting a pharmacy or a traditional healer. Generally, respondents had inadequate knowledge, positive attitudes and good health seeking practices towards pediatric TB. There was an association of knowledge and attitudes with health seeking practices. Therefore, regular pediatric TB education is recommended at MCH, Kapsabet Referral Hospital, Nandi County, Kenya. Keywords: Pediatric tuberculosis, Knowledge, Attitudes, Health seeking practice, Kenya, Nandi County, Kapsabet Referral Hospital DOI: 10.7176/JHMN/77-08 Publication date: July 31 st 2020