TUBERCULOSIS-RELATED KNOWLEDGE AND HEALTH SEEKING PRACTICES AMONG PREGNANT WOMEN IN ORUMBA SOUTH LOCAL GOVERNMENT AREA, ANAMBRA STATE
Ifunanya R. Obi
Department of Physical and Health Education
Federal College of Education (Technical) Umunze,
Tr. Professor E. S. Samuel
Department of Human kinetics and Health Education
University of Nigeria, Nsukka
&
Kamtoochukwu M. Obi
Department of Community Medicine
Nnamdi Azikiwe University Teaching Hospital Nnewi
Abstract
The purpose of the study was to find out the tuberculosis-related knowledge and health seeking practices among pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in Primary Health Care centers in the rural communities in Orumba South Local Government Area of Anambra State. Two research questions and four null hypotheses were raised to guide the study. Cross-sectional survey design was used for the study. The population for this study consisted of all the pregnant women attending antenatal clinics in the eleven PHCs and convenience sampling technique was used to draw a sample of 260 pregnant women for the study. The instrument for data collection was a researcher designed-questionnaire. Frequencies and percentages were used to answer research questions, while Chi-square statistics were used for testing the hypotheses. The results of the study indicated that: majority of pregnant women (75.69%) had correct knowledge of TB and majority (89.35%) adopted appropriate health seeking practices regarding TB. There was no significant difference in TB related knowledge by pregnant women according to age (χ2 = 2.055, p= .152> .05) and level of education (χ2 = 34.059, p= .000 < .05). There was no significant difference in adoption of appropriate TB related health seeking practice by pregnant women according to age (χ2 = .001, p= .975 > .05) while there was significant difference in adoption of appropriate TB related health seeking practice by pregnant women according to level of education(χ2 = 8.015, p= .046 < .05). Based on the findings, it was recommended that government should continue organizing trainings and workshops for PHC workers so that current information on TB could be stepped down to the pregnant women as well as other members of the community when they visit these centers, most especially to those with no formal education.
Keywords: Tuberculosis, Knowledge, Health seeking Practices, Pregnant women