Knowledge and Attitude of Tuberculosis Patients and Their Family Caregivers about Tuberculosis in Minia Governorate

Abdelwaha ,, A A.,; Sadek ,, R R.,; Kotb ,, S., A; Ahmed ,, M., A.

doi:10.21608/asnj.2013.185318

Knowledge and Attitude of Tuberculosis Patients and Their Family Caregivers about Tuberculosis in Minia Governorate

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

¹ Public Health and Community Medicine., Faculty of Medicine., Minia University

² Community Health Nursing ., Faculty of Nursing., Assiut University

³ Community Health Nursing ., Faculty of Nursing., Beni-suif University

10.21608/asnj.2013.185318

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Tuberculosis continues to pose serious public health problem threats, especially in developing countries. It is a common and often deadly infectious disease caused by mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis in humans. Tuberculosis usually attacks the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body. Each year, approximately 2 million persons worldwide die of tuberculosis and 9 million become infected. Aim of this study: to assess knowledge and attitude of TB patients and their family caregivers about TB in Minia governorate. Subject and Methods: Cross sectional research design was utilized in the present study. This study was carried out in Minia governorate; three districts namely Beni-mazar, Minia and Mallawy that were selected randomly. The study sample included 125 patients' and 173 family caregivers. Two tools were used in this study. First tool: consists of three parts: Part I; included sociodemographic characteristics , Part II; included environmental assessment sheet. Part III; included Knowledge of patient and their families about Tuberculosis disease. Second tool: Likert scale used to assess attitude of patients and their families about tuberculosis. Results: This study illustrated that the age of TB patients and their family caregivers ranged between (18-60) years with the mean age (34.8±13.7, 38.8±13.9), respectively. Concerning the educational level, it was found that the highest percentage in both groups were illiterate, it represents 43.2% in the TB patients and 43.9% in the family caregivers, respectively. Also, the present study showed that the majority of TB patient and their families had poor knowledge and negative attitude about TB. Conclusion: the findings of this study illustrated that more than half of patient and their families had poor knowledge about TB and more than three quarters of them had negative attitude especially in rural areas. Recommendation: there is a strong need for increasing patients and family caregiver’s awareness about TB transmission and prevention.

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