Journal of Infectious Diseases & Preventive Medicine
Open Access

Abstract

Knowledge, Attitude and Practice of Tuberculosis and its Transmission among High School Students in Yirgacheffe Town, Gedeo Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Desalegn Tsegaw Hibstu and Berhanu Jikamo Bago

Background: Tuberculosis continues to be a major public health problem throughout the world, including Ethiopia. The aim of this study was to assess secondary students knowledge, attitude, and practice tuberculosis and it transmission.

Methods: Institutional based cross sectional study was conducted from April 17-18/2015 in Yirgachefe secondary school students. A total of 264 study participants were included using simple random sampling technique. Data was collected using self-administered questionnaires and analyzed using SPSS software version 20.0.

Result: Two hundred forty five (99.6%) of the respondents said that they ever heard about tuberculosis. It was indicated that 59.8% (95% CI: 53.9% to 65.7%) of participants had good knowledge of TB and its transmission, only 32.9% (95% CI: 27.0% to 38.6%) have good attitude and 68.7% (95% CI: 63.1% to 74.3%) have good practice towards the prevention of TB transmission. Being grade 12 had significant association with knowledge of tuberculosis and its transmission.

Conclusion: It was identified that there was a gap in knowledge and attitude on tuberculosis and its transmission among the study participants. Emphasis needs to be given on increasing the knowledge, attitude and practice of students about TB and its transmission.