Knowledge Attitudes and Practices on the Prevention of Tuberculosis Among HIV/AIDS Positive Adult Clients of 18 Years and Above Attending Art Clinic at Namokora Health Center IV Kitgum District Uganda

Nyeko Peter Paul

Faculty of Clinical Medicine and Dentistry, Kampala International University, Uganda

ABSTRACT

Tuberculosis is a common and potentially lethal infectious disease caused by various strains of mycobacteria, usually Mycobacterium tuberculosis in humans. Tuberculosis usually attacked the lungs but can also affect other parts of the body. People living with HIV are 20 to 30 times more likely to develop active TB disease than people without. The study was carried out among HIV/AIDS positive adult clients attending ART clinic at Namukora HC IV with the purpose of assessing their knowledge, attitudes and practices on the prevention of TB among them. The research questions were; what were the knowledge, attitudes and practices of clients on the prevention of TB? A descriptive and cross-sectional design was employed and 50 (fifty) respondents were taken as sample size. Data was collected using an interview guide. Most respondents had varying levels of knowledge about the signs and symptoms of TB infection. All respondents 50 (100%) had ever heard of tuberculosis with its signs and symptoms. Furthermore, 21 (42%) said staying in overcrowded environment predisposed someone to TB. However, only 3 (6%) mentioned HIV positive people being at most risk of TB infection in the community, 35 (70%) had never used TB screening services, 37 (74%) had never heard about any drug used to prevent TB infection among HIV. Meanwhile 33 (66%) respondents agreed that screening and testing of TB has very many health benefits, 36 (72%) agreed that TB is a very dangerous disease while 23 (46%) strongly agreed that TB screening and testing is acceptable for all community members. Most respondents 35(70%) had never been screened for TB infection yet 25 (50%) had a total of 6-10 people residing in their household which caused overcrowding and highly predisposed to TB infection. The researcher noted that although respondents were knowledgeable about some aspects of TB prevention and had positive attitudes towards prevention of TB infection, their practices remained poor and hence needed interventions to improve practices towards prevention of TB infection.

Keyword: Tuberculosis, HIV/AIDS, Mycobacterium tuberculosis, People Living With HIV/AIDS, ART Clinic

CITE AS: Nyeko Peter Paul (2024).  Knowledge Attitudes and Practices on the Prevention of Tuberculosis Among HIV/AIDS Positive Adult Clients of 18 Years and Above Attending Art Clinic at Namokora Health Center IV Kitgum District Uganda RESEARCH INVENTION JOURNAL OF BIOLOGICAL AND APPLIED SCIENCES 3(1):54-67.