Assessing tuberculosis knowledge, attitudes, practices, and health-seeking behaviours of students at a selected university in South Africa
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.38140/ijss-2024.vol4.18Keywords:
Tuberculosis, knowledge, attitudes, health-seeking behaviour, university studentsAbstract
Tuberculosis (TB) remains a public health concern in South Africa, particularly among young adults. This study aimed to assess and investigate the attitudes, practices, and health-seeking behaviours of students at the University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) regarding TB. The research provides valuable insights into the awareness of TB among students, their preventive practices, and their healthcare-seeking behaviours related to the disease. A cross-sectional design was employed, utilising a structured questionnaire to collect data from a representative sample of UKZN students on the Howard College campus. Data analysis involved descriptive statistics, such as frequencies and percentages, to summarise responses. Inferential statistics, including chi-square tests, were used to explore associations between variables and assess the knowledge, attitudes, and health-seeking behaviours of respondents. The study, which included 221 postgraduate and undergraduate students, revealed that participants were well aware of the symptoms, causes, and modes of TB transmission. The descriptive analysis indicated that 97.7% of respondents exhibited good knowledge about TB, with a total mean score of 0.977 and a standard deviation of 0.149. However, regarding health-seeking behaviours and practices, 53.4% of respondents demonstrated poor health-seeking behaviours, in contrast to 46.6% who exhibited good practices, with a mean score of 0.466 and a standard deviation of 0.499. Although all respondents indicated they would visit health facilities if they suspected they had TB, there was evidence of low screening practices and suboptimal health-seeking behaviours. Based on these findings, the study suggests leveraging social media to disseminate knowledge about TB to promote its prevention and treatment.
References
Abu-Humaidan, A. H., Tarazi, A., Hamadneh, Y., Al-Leimon, A., Al-Leimon, O., Aljahalin, M., ... & Alaridah, N. (2022). Knowledge, attitudes, and practices toward tuberculosis among Jordanian university students. Frontiers in Public Health, 10, 1055037. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1055037
Akpa-Inyang, F., & Chima, S. C. (2021). South African traditional values and beliefs regarding informed consent and limitations of the principle of respect for autonomy in African communities: a cross-cultural qualitative study. BMC medical ethics, 22, 1-17. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12910-021-00678-4
Akpa-Inyang, F., Ojewole, E., & Chima, S. C. (2022). Patients’ Experience on Practice and Applicability of Informed Consent in Traditional Medical Practice in KwaZulu?Natal Province, South Africa. Evidence?Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2022(1), 3674467. https://doi.org/10.1155/2022/3674467
Ayub, T., & Tariq, R. J. A. (2017). Knowledge, Attitude towards tuberculosis among the attendants accompanying the patients visiting various Health centres of Block Hazratbal of District Srinagar of Kashmir Valley: A cross sectional study. Journal of Medical Science and Clinical Research, 19(24), 25-30. https://dx.doi.org/10.18535/jmscr/v5i8.13
Bati, J., Legesse, M., & Medhin, G. (2013). Community’s knowledge, attitudes and practices about tuberculosis in Itang special district, Gambella region, southwestern Ethiopia. BMC Public Health, 13, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-13-734
Benson, I. T. (2011). South African charter of religious rights and freedoms constitutional framework, formation and challenges. International Journal for Religious Freedom, 4(1), 125–134.
Churchyard, G., Mametja, L., Mvusi, L., Ndjek, N., Hesseling, A., Reid, A., & Babatunde, S. (2014). Tuberculosis control in South Africa: Successes, challenges and recommendations. South African Medical Journal, 104(3), 244-248. http://dx.doi.org/10.7196%2FSAMJ.7689
Craciun, O. M., Torres, M. D. R., Llanes, A. B., & Romay-Barja, M. (2023). Tuberculosis knowledge, attitudes, and practice in middle?and low?income countries: A systematic review. Journal of Tropical Medicine, 2023(1), 1014666. https://doi.org/10.1155/2023/1014666
Field, A. (2017). Discovering Statistics Using IBM SPSS Statistics. Sage Publications.
Jamaludin, T. S. S., Ismail, N., & Saidi, S. (2019). Knowledge, awareness, and perception towards tuberculosis disease among International Islamic University Malaysia Kuantan students. J Enfermeria clinica, 29(2), 771-775. http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.enfcli.2019.04.116
Kasa, A. S., Minibel, A., & Bantie, G. M. (2019). Knowledge, attitude and preventive practice towards tuberculosis among clients visiting public health facilities. BMC research notes, 12, 1-6. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13104-019-4292-2
Kigozi, N. G., Heunis, J. C., Engelbrecht, M. C., Janse van Rensburg, A. P., & van Rensburg, H. D. (2017). Tuberculosis knowledge, attitudes and practices of patients at primary health care facilities in a South African metropolitan: research towards improved health education. BMC Public Health, 17, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-017-4825-3
Laiby, R., Debjani, P., & Prashant, B. (2022). Knowledge, attitude and practices towards tuberculosis: Study amongst urban adults visiting the community health centre. International Journal of Medicine and Public Health, 12(1), 28–32. http://dx.doi.org/10.5530/ijmedph.2022.1.6
Levy, P. S., & Lemeshow, S. (2013). Sampling of Populations: Methods and Applications (4th ed.). John Wiley & Sons.
Luba, T. R., Tang, S., Liu, Q., Gebremedhin, S. A., Kisasi, M. D., & Feng, Z. (2019). Knowledge, attitude and associated factors towards tuberculosis in Lesotho: a population-based study. BMC Infectious Diseases, 19, 1-10. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12879-019-3688-x
Makgopa, S., & Madiba, S. (2021). Tuberculosis knowledge and delayed health care seeking among new diagnosed tuberculosis patients in primary health facilities in an Urban District, South Africa. Health Services Insights, 14, https://doi.org/10.1177/11786329211054035
Martínez-Mesa, J., González-Chica, D. A., Duquia, R. P., Bonamigo, R. R., & Bastos, J. L. (2016). Sampling: how to select participants in my research study? Anais Brasileiros de Dermatologia, 91(3), 326-330. https://doi.org/10.1590%2Fabd1806-4841.20165254
Mekonnen, A., Collins, J. M., Klinkenberg, E., Assefa, D., Aseffa, A., Ameni, G., & Petros, B. (2020). Tuberculosis knowledge and attitude among non-health science university students need attention: a cross-sectional study in three Ethiopian universities. BMC Public Health, 20, 1-9. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-08788-1
Munro, S. A., Lewin, S. A., Smith, H. J., Engel, M. E., Fretheim, A., & Volmink, J. (2007). Patient adherence to tuberculosis treatment: a systematic review of qualitative research. PLoS Medicine, 4(7), e238. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-08788-1
Musakwa, N. O., Bor, J., Nattey, C., Lönnermark, E., Nyasulu, P., Long, L., & Evans, D. (2021). Perceived barriers to the uptake of health services among first-year university students in Johannesburg, South Africa. PloS one, 16(1), https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0245427
Onyango, P. A., Ter Goon, D., & Rala, N. M. D. (2020). Knowledge, attitudes and health-seeking behaviour among patients with tuberculosis: a cross-sectional study. The Open Public Health Journal, 13(1). http://dx.doi.org/10.2174/1874944502013010739
Pallant, J. (2020). SPSS survival manual: A step-by-step guide to data analysis using IBM SPSS. McGraw-Hill Education. https://doi.org/10.4324/9781003117452
Pengpid, S., Peltzer, K., Puckpinyo, A., Tiraphat, S., Viripiromgool, S., Apidechkul, T., Sathirapanya, C., Leethongdee, S., Chompikul, J., & Mongkolchati, A. (2016). Knowledge, attitudes, and practices about tuberculosis and choice of communication channels in Thailand. The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries, 10(07), 694-703. https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.6963
Pengpid, S., & Peltzer, K. (2019). Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices Regarding Tuberculosis in Timor-Leste: Results From the Demographic and Health Survey 2016. Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, 52(2), 115. https://doi.org/10.3961%2Fjpmph.18.170
Popovic, A., & Huecker, M. R. (2021). Study bias.
Rana, M., Sayem, A., Karim, R., Islam, N., Islam, R., Zaman, T. K., & Hossain, G. (2015). Assessment of knowledge regarding tuberculosis among non-medical university students in Bangladesh: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 15, 1-7. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-015-2071-0
Raosoft. (2020). Sample size calculator by Raosoft. Raosoft Inc.
Raviglione, M., & Sulis, G. (2016). Tuberculosis 2015: burden, challenges and strategy for control and elimination. Infectious disease reports, 8(2), 33-37. https://doi.org/10.4081/idr.2016.6570
Reddy, P., Ramraj, U., & Chetty, L. (2022). Knowledge of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis amongst Durban University of Technology students in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa: the need for integrating public health education. African Health Sciences, 22(2), 178–186. https://doi.org/10.4314%2Fahs.v22i2.21
Salleh, S. F. M., Rahman, N. A. A., Rahman, N. I. A., & Haque, M. J. I. M. J. (2018). Knowledge, Attitude and Practice towards Tuberculosis among Community of Kulim Municipal Council, Kedah, Malaysia. International Medical Journal, 25(5), 299-303.
Select Research (PTY) LTD. (2017). Knowledge, Attitudes and Practises (KAP) on TB, HIV and Silicosis Among Key Populations Aged 15 and 59 years in Southern Africa.
Seloma, N. M., Makgatho, M. E., & Maimela, E. (2023). Knowledge, attitude and preventative practice of tuberculosis in rural communities of Dikgale, Mamabolo and Mothiba health and demographic surveillance system in Limpopo province, South Africa. BMC Public Health, 23(1), 1687. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-023-15845-y
Singh, A. S., & Masuku, M. B. (2013). Fundamentals of applied research and sampling techniques. International Journal of Medical and Applied Sciences, 2(4), 124-132.
Smolovic, M., Pesut, D., Bulajic, M., & Simic, M. (2012). Knowledge and attitudes towards tuberculosis in non-medical students University of Belgrade. Pneumologia, 61(2), 88-91.
Tolossa, D., Medhin, G., & Legesse, M. J. B. (2014). Community knowledge, attitude, and practices towards tuberculosis in Shinile town, Somali regional state, eastern Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health, 14(1), 804. https://doi.org/10.1186/1471-2458-14-804
Uchenna, O. U., Ngozi, C. J., Oshi D. C., Nwafor C. C., & Meka A. O. (2014). Assessment of tuberculosis-related knowledge, attitudes and practices in Enugu, South East Nigeria. Journal of infectious Diseases and Immunity, 6(1), 1-9. http://dx.doi.org/10.5897/JIDI2011.0020
Wakefield, M. A., Loken, B., & Hornik, R. C. (2010). Use of mass media campaigns to change health behaviour. The Lancet, 376, 1261–1271. https://doi.org/10.1016/s0140-6736(10)60809-4
World Health Organization. (2008). Stop TB policy paper: Contributing to health system strengthening: guiding principles for national tuberculosis programmes (9241597178). https://apps.who.int/iris/bitstream/handle/10665/43978/9789241597173_eng.pdf
World Health Organization. (?2013)?. Global tuberculosis report 2013. World Health Organization. https://iris.who.int/handle/10665/91355.
Yusuf, L., Puspitasari, I. M., & Sinuraya, R. K. (2021). Recent studies on knowledge, attitude, and practice toward tuberculosis among university students. Journal of Applied Pharmaceutical Science, 11(8), 178-183. https://dx.doi.org/10.7324/JAPS.2021.110823
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
Copyright (c) 2024 Chinwendu Jane Nnam, Francis Fabian Akpa-Inyang
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.
