Knowledge, attitude and practices related to tuberculosis among healthcare workers at Komfo Anokye Teaching hospital
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Date
AUGUST, 2019
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Abstract
Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the most important infectious diseases in
the world. A lot of efforts have been put in place to curb its menace since the global
epidemic in the 1990s. Even though progress has been made in recent time, the
incidence and mortality rates of tuberculosis leaves a lot to be desired. Good
knowledge, positive attitude and good preventive practice on the part of healthcare
workers (HCWs) are pivotal in the fight against TB worldwide. A deficit in the
knowledge, attitude and TB preventive practice among HCWs can lead to the delivery
of substandard care, ineffective use of resources and poor service delivery which
would impact health outcomes negatively as well as increase the risk of TB
transmission and compound the issues of antimicrobial resistance. The aim of this
study was to assess the knowledge, positive attitude and preventive practice (KAP) of
HCWs as well as the determinants of KAP among HCWs in Komfo Anokye Teaching
Hospital (KATH).
Method: This study was a descriptive cross – sectional survey. A structured
knowledge, attitude and practice questionnaire was administered among
Doctors/Physicians, Nurses, Midwives, Pharmacists/Drug Dispensers, Biomedical
Scientists.
Results: Three hundred and sixty nine (369) healthcare workers (HCWs) in Komfo
Anokye Teaching Hospital (KATH) participated in this study. These included two
hundred and nine (209) Nurses, Seventy-seven (77) Midwives, fifty - nine (59)
Doctors/Physician Assistants, thirteen (13) Pharmacists/Pharmacy Technicians and
seven (7) Biomedical Scientists. Knowledge (overall mean score = 0.74, SD=1.3),
attitude (overall mean attitude score = 0.67, SD = 0.08) and TB control practice
(overall mean attitude score = 0.77, SD = 0.17) of HCWs were good. Nonetheless
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some gaps were identified. With regard to TB knowledge, knowledge deficit was
observed on the signs and symptoms, diagnoses, treatment regimen and the mode of
transmission. Again healthcare workers (70 %) were not willing to work aon TB
patients as they perceived TB as threatening and stressful. Poor practice was
identified with regard to adequate training of staffs on TB and timing of diagnosing
TB suspected cases. Educational level of HCWs was a predictor of TB knowledge
where HCWs holding a Bachelor degree were five times likely to have good
knowledge on TB (AOR: 5.17, 95% CI: 1.24-21.65). Nurses were 16 % likely to
demonstrate positive attitude (AOR: 0.16, 95% CI: 0.03-0.7) compared to Doctor/
Physician Assistants. HCWs with a Diploma (AOR: 17.6, 95% CI: 4.37-70.93),
Bachelor‟s Degree (AOR: 0.85, 95% CI: 1.55-22.07), Masters (AOR: 14.38, 95% CI:
1.23-168.85) were also more likely to demonstrate positive attitude. Females (AOR:
2.19, 95% CI: 1.17-4.10), Nurses (AOR: 2.35, 95% CI: 1.15-4.8) and Midwifes were
likely to practice good TB infection control.
Conclusions: The outcome of this result is encouraging since majority of respondent
had good knowledge, attitude and effective practice in the control and management of
TB. Even though the aforementioned were identified to be good, some gaps were
undoubtedly disclosed necessitating the need for adequate education of Healthcare
workers on TB disease and infection.
Description
A thesis submitted to African Institute of Sanitation and Waste Management (Accra).
Keywords
Knowledge, attitude, Practices, Tuberculosis, Healthcare workers, Komfo Anokye Teaching hospital