Strategies to enhance participation in the prevention of tuberculosis by religious leaders in Khomas Region, Namibia
Year: 2021
Type: dissertation
Abstract: Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the top-ranking causes of death in many countries, including Namibia. The purpose of this research study was to determine the knowledge and the attitudes of religious leaders and congregants regarding TB and to describe practices of TB prevention among religious leaders and congregants in Khomas Region, Namibia. The researcher developed strategies for enhancing the prevention of TB by religious leaders in Khomas Region, Namibia. The Health Belief Model and the Socio-ecological Model were adopted for the study. A mixed-method convergent design was used in this study. Phase one of the study involved the use of a quantitative descriptive design and phase two comprised a sequential mixed-method study using the Delphi technique. Explorative, descriptive and contextual designs were applied in phase two. Data were collected using semi-structured questionnaires in both phase one and phase two. Phase one included 299 participants and phase two included 100 experts in TB and religion. A quantitative data analysis was done using Moon Stats 2018, version 2.0. A qualitative data analysis was done following the steps of content analysis. This study found that the participants were very knowledgeable about TB in that 241 (80.87%) participants indicated that bacteria are the cause of TB and 292 (97.99%) indicated that TB bacteria are spread through the air from one person to another. The participants had a good attitude towards TB in that 227 (76.65%) participants agreed that anyone can be infected with TB and 140 (47.78%) expressed compassion for people who have TB. Participants of the study had good practices for TB prevention, like seeking medical attention if they suspect they have TB. A total of 28 strategies for the primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of TB were developed. The recommendation made in this study is that religious leaders should be at the forefront of TB prevention activities due to their sphere of influence in society. All health sector stakeholders should support efforts by religious leaders to combat TB through sponsorships.
Author: Kopano Robert
Language: English
Subfield: Infectious Diseases
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3184236751