Beliefs towards Tuberculosis among Patients in DOTS Centres in Nsukka LGA of Enugu State, Nigeria

Abstract

Patients’ beliefs about their illness in most cases determine where such people go to seek for care. The purpose of the study was to determine beliefs towards tuberculosis (TB) among TB patients in Nsukka Local Government Area of Enugu state, Nigeria. Descriptive survey was employed. The study population and sample consisted of all 206 TB patients attending Directly Observed Treatment Shortcourse (DOTS) centres in the study area at the time of the study. Structured questionnaire known as Beliefs About Tuberculosis Questionnaire (BATQ) was used to collect data. Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) version 21 was used to analyze 201 correctly filled instruments. Frequencies and percentages were used to answer the research questions while chi-square statistics was used to test the null hypotheses at .05 level of significance. Results of the study indicated that only 37.8 per cent and 19.1 percent of respondents had correct beliefs about cause and duration of TB respectively while most had correct beliefs about consequences (75.6%) and cure or control (93.5%) of TB. There were significant differences in the beliefs about TB based on the variables of age and location (p < .05). False beliefs about cause and duration of TB revealed in this study might prevent TB patients from participation in health promotional activities because of stigma attached to the disease. Therefore it was recommended that public health educators as well as other health workers should use all available settings to disseminate health information especially on preventable diseases like tuberculosis in other to enhance positive beliefs about TB and subsequently lead to control of the disease.