Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices on Tuberculosis Control Among Grass Root Level Community Health Care Workers in the Rathnapura District, Sri Lanka

Lalitha Indrani Malwenna¹*, NK Chintha Gunarathna², Hemali Nanda Malvenna³, Kapila Bimal Kannangara⁴, CKB Jayawardana⁵ and NB Gamini⁶

¹ Consultant Community Physician, Deputy Director (Training), National Institute of Health Sciences, Kalutara, Sri Lanka
² Consultant Community Physician, Deputy Director, District General Hospital, Kalutara, Sri Lanka
³ Medical Officer, District General Hospital, Kalutara, Sri Lanka
⁴ Provincial Director of Health Services, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka
⁵ Medical Officer Planning, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka
⁶ Medical Officer of Health, Sabaragamuwa Province, Sri Lanka

*Corresponding Author: : Lalitha Indrani Malwenna, Consultant Community Physician, Deputy Director (Training), National Institute of Health Sciences, Kalutara, Sri Lanka.

Received: March 17, 2022; Published: March 31, 2022

Abstract

Background: Interruption of transmission of tuberculosis requires timely diagnosis and completion of the full course of treatment.

Objective: To study knowledge, attitudes and practices of field health workers on tuberculosis and its management

Methods: Institutional based descriptive cross sectional study was conducted among primary health care workers in the field setup in Rathnapura district in Sabaragamuwa province, Sri Lanka; using a self-administered questionnaire. Level of knowledge was assessed in percentages. Attitudes were assessed using total attitude score converting into percentages and the Inter Quartile Range.

Associated factors were assessed using chi square test for significance with p value <0.05. Practices were expressed as percentages for each practice statement.

Results: Overall knowledge was poor in 41.5%, good in 44.3% and very good in 14.2%. Significant relationship was elicited in relation to designation of participant being in the Environment and Occupational Health category (χ2 = 14.797; p = 0.001), while no significant association between knowledge with age, educational qualifications, duration of service or participation to training programmes.

Overall attitude was poor/average in 21.5%, good in 62.5% and very good in 16.0%. Statistically significant positive association could be elicited between ages above 40 years (χ2 = 53.334; p = 0.000), educational qualifications being Advanced Level and above (χ2 = 199.737; p = 0.000), being married (χ2 = 313.307; p = 0.000), having service of 10 years and above (χ2 = 125.560; p = 0.000). Practices were very poor among participants. Statistically significance existed that; the Environment and Occupational Health category referring significantly higher number (χ2 = 271.802; p = 0.000), providing of more Direct Observed Treatment (χ2 = 49.579; p = 0.000). Simultaneously between referral for treatment and participation for training programmes (χ2 = 19.596; p = 0. 000). No significant relationships were elicited with age, educational levels, duration of service and the assessed practices. No statistically significant association between levels of overall knowledge and overall attitudes (χ2 = 6.375; p = 0.173). The practice of conduction of health education sessions to the community showed significant association with the knowledge (χ2 = 9.775; p = 0.044).

Conclusion: The level of knowledge and practices isn’t compatible with the expected role of field health workers.

Keywords: Tuberculosis; Knowledge; Attitudes; Practices; Field Health Care Workers

References

Citation

Citation: Lalitha Indrani Malwenna., et al. “Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices on Tuberculosis Control Among Grass Root Level Community Health Care Workers in the Rathnapura District, Sri Lanka". Acta Scientific Women's Health 4.4 (2022): 32-42.

Copyright

Copyright: © 2022 Lalitha Indrani Malwenna., et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.