Health Seeking Behavior, Practices of TB and Access to Health Care among TB Patients in Machakos County, Kenya. A Cross-Sectional Study
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Date
2014
Authors
Mutinda, Kasusu A.
Kabiru, Ephantus W.
Mwanik, Peter .K.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
IISTE
Abstract
Despite efforts to implementation of the DOTS programme in Kenya since the year (1993) and achieving 100%
coverage by the year 1996; new TB cases continue to emerge in communities, a significance of TB transmission.
The success of the DOTS programne require total adherence to treatment for those infected with TB and
appropriate control measures as stipulated in TB treatment guidelines, trained manpower to manage the infected
patients and surveillance. The main objective of this study was to examine the health seeking behavior of TB
patients, practices of TB and access to health care. A cross- sectional survey of TB patients was done in AthiRiver, Machakos level 5 and Mutituni TB treatment health facilities in Machakos County. A pre-tested self
administered questionnaire/ interviews was used to collect data. The data was analyzed by use of statistical
package for social sciences (SPSS) version 16. Pearson Chi-Square analysis was used to determine the
relationships between variables. Level of significance was fixed at 0.05 (p=0.05).The results of this study reveal
TB is affecting more males than females (60.4%).Most of the TB patients are young below 40 years accounting
for (71.8%), are poor and unemployed (65%).When the TB patient realized they were sick, most of them
(81.4%) sought informal remedies from private practioners or self medicated. This delayed early opportunity to
seek heath care for more than one month by (82%) of the respondents. Failure of the informal treatment and
unbearable pains in advanced disease forced the majority (96.8%) to seek health care in designated TB treatment
facilities. There is secrecy in TB status disclosure as (75.5%) declined to openly disclose. For those who
disclosed (78%) was to a selected family member mainly to seek assistance (90.7%). Across age groups,
educational level, marital status, disclosure of TB status was of no statistical significance p=0.462 and openness
of status p=0.112 respectively as the majority remained secret. Health education received by (52.8%) in the TB
clinics was observed to significantly influence clinic attendance p=0.014 and adherence to treatment p=0.008 as
78.5% attended regularly and 85.5% adhered respectively. Treatment in public facilities is free with the majority
(89.9%) reporting attendance. TB patients care in the community is mainly by family members (74.8%), there
is no follow up by heath workers and social support group is minimal at (11.4%).The ministry of health needs to
address control measures by initiating strict surveillance of TB, initiate community education on best practices
of TB and to distigmatize the disease.
Description
A Research Article in the Journal of Biology, Agriculture and Healthcare
Keywords
Health seeking behavior of TB patients, Practices of TB, Access to health care, Machakos County
Citation
Mutinda, K. A., Kabiru, E. W., & Mwaniki, P. K. (2014). Health seeking behavior, practices of TB and access to health care among TB patients in Machakos County, Kenya. A cross-sectional study. Health, 4(14).