KNOWLEDGE OF AND ATTITUDE TO TUBERCULOSIS AMONG COMMUNITY HEALTH EXTENSION WORKERS IN ABIA STATE
ABSTRACT
The purpose of this study was to find out the knowledge of and attitude to TB among community health extension workers (CHEWs) in Abia State. A descriptive survey design was used for this study, and instrument for data collection was a twenty-eight item questionnaire. One hundred and twenty-five (125) copies of the questionnaires were produced and distributed to 125 Community health extension workers (CHEWs) working in TB treatment centres in the seventeen (17) local government areas of the state. Total population sampling technique was used. This entailed using the entire population of one hundred and twenty-five CHEWs. One hundred and four, out of one hundred and twenty-five questionnaires distributed to the respondents were duely completed and returned, giving a return rate of more than eighty per cent. The data were duly analysed. Percentages were used to analyse responses on knowledge, while mean scores were used to analyse information on attitude of respondents to TB. The hypotheses were tested using t-test for variables having two dimensions while analysis of variances (ANOVA) was used for variables having more than two dimensions.The findings showed the followings; the level of knowledge among the CHEWs on various dimensions of tuberculosis was mostly high (between the range of 70- 80%) while the attitude to various areas of TB among CHEWs was both positive and negative; and there was no signifpicant difference in the level of knowledge and attitude to TB among CHEWs based on their gender and rank hence the null hypotheses which were tested at .05 level of significance was accepted. Conclusions made in this work were as follows: the overall knowledge level of TB among CHEWs was high; attitude to TB among CHEWs was positive; and there was no significant difference in the level of knowledge of and attitude to TB among CHEWs irrespective of their gender and rank. Recommendations on appropriate training or seminar or workshop as well as regular supervision of the CHEWs by TB Expert were made in order to sustain the present level of knowledge and attitude to TB among CHEWs.