Perceptions of tuberculosis and treatment seeking behaviour in Ilala and Kinondoni Municipalities in Tanzania
This study was carried out in Ilala and Kinondoni Municipalities in Tanzania to explore the perceptions of Tuberculosis (TB), and treatment seeking behaviour, among patients attending healthcare facilities. The study was conducted in four randomly selected health facilities providing directly observ...
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| Published in: | Tanzania journal of health research Vol. 10; no. 2; pp. 89 - 94 |
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , |
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
Tanzania
Health User's Trust Fund (HRUTF)
01-04-2008
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| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | Get full text |
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| Summary: | This study was carried out in Ilala and Kinondoni Municipalities in
Tanzania to explore the perceptions of Tuberculosis (TB), and treatment
seeking behaviour, among patients attending healthcare facilities. The
study was conducted in four randomly selected health facilities
providing directly observed treatment (DOT). Exit interviews were
administered to 69 randomly selected TB patients. The mean age of the
respondents was 33.2 years (range= 11-72 years). Forty-six (66.7%) of
the patients had primary school education. Fifty-nine (84.1%) patients
had good knowledge on the transmission of TB. Majority (75%) of the
respondents were of the opinion that the incidence of TB was on the
increase and this was mainly associated with HIV/AIDS epidemic. All
respondents knew that TB was a curable disease if one complies with the
treatment. Sixty-four (60%) respondents had good knowledge on the
correct duration of tuberculosis treatment. The median duration before
seeking treatment from a health facility was 1.5 months. The majority
of the patients 47 (68%) visited public health facilities for treatment
as their first action. Overall, 83.8% (57/68) respondents said
females comply better with treatment than male patients. The majority
of the respondents lived within a walking distance to a healthcare
facility. Only 18.8% (13/69) had to spend an average of US$ 0.2-0.3 as
travel costs to the healthcare facility. Most of the respondents
(57.8%) said they were well attended by service providers. Half (21/42)
and 59.3% (16/27) of the males and females, respectively, mentioned
good patient-service provider relationship as an important reason for
satisfaction of the service (χ2 =0.57, df=1, P>0.005).
Twenty-nine (42%) of respondents were of the opinion that female TB
patients conformed better to treatment than males and a similar number
thought that both of them equally conformed to treatment. Findings from
this study indicate that a large population in urban settings are aware
that health facilities play a major role in TB treatment. In
conclusion, there is a need to further explore how this information
could potentially be used to enhance early seeking of appropriate
services among TB patients in the era of rapid urbanization. Strategies
in the control of TB and other diseases should focus on advocacy in
seeking appropriate care. |
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| Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-1 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-Feature-2 content type line 23 |
| ISSN: | 1821-6404 |
| DOI: | 10.4314/thrb.v10i2.14327 |