Exploration of the knowledge about and attitude towards tuberculosis among non-TB infected attendees at a Cape Town community clinic

[摘要] ENGLISH ABSTRACT:Mycobacterium Tuberculosis (TB) continues to rank among the world's most serious problems despite biomedical achievement of effective prophylaxis and chemotherapy. In South Africa, TB is directly linked to the country's high HIV prevalence rate and other related factors. The required knowledge, as well as people's attitude towards a better understanding of TB are prerequisites for motivating them to seek early treatment.This study aims to explore the knowledge about and attitude towards TB among non- TB infected clinic attendees. More specifically, this study used a qualitative descriptive design to explore and describe clinic attendees' knowledge of the cause, symptoms and treatment of TB and to explore their attitude towards the disease. A semi-structured interview technique was used to gather data. Ten clinic attendees between 20-40 years old, able to communicate in English and who had no past history of TB were conveniently sampled. Manual data analysis was done using an inductive approach. Thereafter, a deductive approach using the Health Belief Model was used to guide the discussion of the findings.Nine major themes were identified. The results confirm a gap in participants' knowledge of the cause, symptoms and treatment of TB. Despite these gaps participants perceived that they were susceptible to TB, the dangers TB could cause and the benefits of completing the treatment. Participants indicated that they would seek medical help if they experienced TB symptoms. However, their fear was their ignorance of TB symptoms on the one hand and the fear of being stigmatized, discriminated against, as well as the quality of health service deliveries on the other hand.The findings highlight the need for on-going education about the cause of TB, transmission, symptoms and treatment at clinics and within the community. Media including radio, television, as well as schools and family should be included in TB education programmes. Immigrants should also be targeted to be included in TB education campaigns.Keys terms: Tuberculosis, Non-TB infected patients, Knowledge and attitude, Health Belief Model.

[发布机构] Stellenbosch University