Impact Of Socio-Demographic And Geographical Factors On Knowledge And Utilization Of Tuberculosis Treatment Centers In A Developing Country
Oluchi Chidiebere Mba
Department of Health Administration and Management, Faculty of Health Sciences and Technology, College of Medicine, University of Nigeria, Enugu Campus, Enugu State, Nigeria
Abstract
Background: Tuberculosis (TB) has remained a major killer disease, despite efforts to reduce its burden globally. More significantly affected are developing countries, including Nigeria. But how socio-demographic factors including distance from the TB treatment facility influence the knowledge and the possible use of Tuberculosis treatment centre is not well known among the patients and that constituted the basis for this study. The study was a cross-sectional survey in which 125 patients who were receiving treatment at the University of Nigeria directly observed treatment strategy (DOTS) centre were interviewed using self-administered questionnaire. Data analysis was achieved through the use of SPSS statistical tool. The gender of the respondents showed an influence on the knowledge and possible use of the TB treatment centre (Fishers value of 0.044) in favour of the female patients. The table also indicated that respondents who went to the hospital from more than 30 kilometres distance had the least knowledge of the TB treatment centre (x2 = 6.726, p=0.081). It reveals that the respondents who are less than 30 years are 16.745 times more likely to know and make use of TB treatment centre when compared to the next age group [31-40 years] (95%CI: 1244287.056-281439587.6), p<0.001. Socio-demographics including geographical factors remain viable options of consideration in an attempt at understanding which patients are to likely to be aware of the DOTS treatment centre and its possible use when in need of TB services.