Factors associated with nutritional status, knowledge and attitudes among tuberculosis patients receiving treatment in Ghana: A cross-sectional study in the Tema Metropolis.

Muhammad Aziz Rahman,Bright Osei,Hubert Amu,Prince Kubi Appiah

doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0258033

Muhammad Aziz Rahman, Bright Osei + Show 2 more

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https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0258033

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Abstract

BackgroundNutritional deficiencies are generally associated with increased risk and severity of tuberculosis. This study investigated the nutritional status, knowledge, and attitudes of tuberculosis (TB) patients receiving treatment in the Tema Metropolis.MethodA cross-sectional design was used to collect data on the nutritional knowledge, attitude, and status of TB patients. Nutritional status was analysed using World Health Organization’s formula for body mass index. Pearson’s chi-square and logistic regression models were used to assess associations between predictor and outcome variables. All statistical analyses were considered significant at p-values < 0.05.ResultThe prevalence of malnutrition among TB patients was 39.7%, 14.4%, and 4.8% for underweight, overweight, and obesity respectively. There was a high (61.0%) knowledge of nutrition among the patients. Also, 65.8% had good attitude towards nutrition. There were significant associations between normal nutritional status and age of the TB patients (p = 0.041), highest educational level attained (p = 0.036), employment status (p = 0.019), status of alcohol intake (p = 0.031), number of months on TB treatment (p = 0.021), and attitude towards nutrition (p = 0.028).ConclusionThere was a reasonable nutrition-related knowledge and attitude towards nutrition among the TB patients. However, that did not reflect on their nutritional status. We recommend continuing education on smoking cessation, avoidance of harmful use of alcohol, and the establishment of food aid and other livelihood intervention programs for TB patients.

Highlights

An estimated 10 million people were infected with tuberculosis (TB) in 2018, as the disease continues to be a major public health concern in most developing countries, including Ghana [1]
That did not reflect on their nutritional status
Factors associated with nutritional status, knowledge and attitude of TB patients receiving treatment in Ghana

Summary

Introduction

An estimated 10 million people were infected with tuberculosis (TB) in 2018, as the disease continues to be a major public health concern in most developing countries, including Ghana [1]. The same reports indicated that 2 million four hundred and fifty thousand (2,450,000), and forty-four thousand (44,000) of the TB patients live in Africa and Ghana, respectively [1]. Among children under five years of age, 149.0 million, 49.5 million, and 40.1 million were stunted, wasted, and overweight, respectively. There are 677.6 million obese adults (aged 18 years and over). The report indicated that 58.8 million (29.1%), 14.0 million (6.4%), 9.5 million (4.7%) of the children in Africa were stunted, wasted, and overweight, respectively, while an estimated 18.4% female and 7.8% male adults on the continent are living with obesity. About 16.6 female and 4.5% male adults in Ghana are living with obesity [2]. This study investigated the nutritional status, knowledge, and attitudes of tuberculosis (TB) patients receiving treatment in the Tema Metropolis

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Discussion

Conclusion