Association between South African high-school learners%26apos; knowledge about tuberculosis and their intention to seek healthcare

作者：Naidoo Saloshni^*; Taylor Myra

来源：Global Health Action, 2013, 6: 21699.

DOI：10.3402/gha.v6i0.21699

• high-school learners
• tuberculosis
• intention to seek treatment

Background: South Africa has one of the highest prevalence of tuberculosis (TB). Addressing awareness among school learners on TB transmission and prevention may assist in reducing the disease burden. %26lt;br%26gt;Objective: We report on factors associated with high-school learners%26apos; intentions to seek healthcare for TB. %26lt;br%26gt;Design: A survey testing TB symptoms, transmission, prevention knowledge, and intention to seek and adhere to treatment was conducted among 1,114 high-school learners in KwaZulu-Natal (KZN), South Africa. Multivariate models correcting for nesting of students within schools tested associations between demographics, TB symptoms, transmission, prevention knowledge, and intention to seek and adhere to treatment. %26lt;br%26gt;Results: Learners knowing that coughing for more than 3 weeks (OR: 2.33; 95% CI: 1.35-4.00) and night sweats (OR: 3.12; 95% CI: 1.80-5.41) were TB symptoms, TB is transmitted when a person with TB coughs (OR: 1.56; 95% CI: 1.23-1.98), and coughing in a closed room was an incorrect practice for someone with TB (OR: 1.71; 95% CI: 1.05-2.78) were significantly more likely to intend taking family members for treatment. Learners knowing that coughing for more than 3 weeks (OR: 2.69; 95% CI: 1.19-6.09), coughing blood (OR: 2.24; 95% CI: 1.33-3.76), and night sweats (OR: 2.25; 95% CI: 1.09-4.64) were TB symptoms, were significantly more likely to intend encouraging family members to adhere to TB treatment. Learners knowing that coughing for more than 3 weeks (OR: 1.47; 95% CI: 1.05-2.07), coughing blood (OR: 2.08; 95% CI: 1.44-3.01), and weight loss (OR: 1.85; 95% CI: 1.38-2.49) were TB symptoms, were significantly more likely to intend taking TB treatment if symptomatic. Learners knowing that coughing for more than 3 weeks (OR: 2.04; 95% CI: 1.45-2.87), and coughing blood (OR: 1.81; 95% CI: 1.24-2.62), were TB symptoms were significantly more likely to intend adhering to TB treatment. %26lt;br%26gt;Conclusions: High-school learners with knowledge about TB symptoms, transmission, and prevention have positive intentions to seek treatment for themselves and family members and adhere to treatment.

• 出版日期2013