Socio-cultural and behavioral factors affecting adherence to Tuberculosis treatment in Malawi.
Year: 2021
Type: dissertation
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: Background: Non-adherence to TB treatment poses a major challenge to Tuberculosis (TB) control \nprograms because it increases the risk of treatment failure, relapse and the emergence of drug resistant \ntuberculosis. \nAim: The study aimed to describe socio-cultural and behavioral factors affecting adherence to TB \ntreatment in Malawi. \nMethods: A cross-sectional and mixed methods study design was used. A simple random sample of 200 \nparticipants who were on TB treatment at the time of the study and were getting their TB drugs from \nBwaila hospital, in Lilongwe District, Malawi was selected. A pretested and structured questionnaire and \nFocus Group Discussions were used to collect data. Data were entered and analyzed using Microsoft \nexcel. Focus Group Discussions data were subjected to a thematic content analysis. \nResults: The majority of the respondents had ever heard about TB before being diagnosed with the \ndisease (77.5%) and the most frequent source of information about TB was from friends, relatives and \nworkmates (45.5%). 95.5% of the respondents disclosed their TB status to others and 90.0% of the \nrespondents did not perceive having TB as shameful. 88.5% of the respondents reported taking their TB \nmedication according to guidelines. While 88.5% of respondents reported that there were no barriers that \nprevent TB patients from adhering to their TB medication, the following barriers were reported by other \nrespondents: travelled without medication (3.5%), forgetfulness (2.5%), long travel distance to health \nfacility (2.5%), didn’t understand dose instructions (1.5%). \nConclusions: This study found that TB patients who have the correct knowledge and information about \nTB and its treatment are more likely to adhere to treatment than those who have no knowledge about TB, \nand that having TB is not self-stigmatized and shameful. Despite the fact that most of the respondents \nreported facing no barriers preventing them from adhering to TB treatment, there were some reported \nbarriers that prevent TB patients from adhering to treatment. There is a need therefore to address these \nbarriers through support from the government and the community at large.
Author: Munyu Ruth . Lipato
Language: English
Subfield: Infectious Diseases
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W3193122633