ABSTRACT
@#Introduction: Tuberculosis is the commonest cause of death among HIV patients in Nigeria. Though tuberculosis is common among HIV patients, their knowledge about transmission and prevention is poor. Objective: To determine knowledge, attitude and preventive practices regarding tuberculosis and its predictors among HIV patients receiving treatment. Methods: A cross sectional study was carried out involving 226 randomly selected HIV patients receiving care at General Hospital, Minna. Study duration was from June 2015 to July 2017. Data on socio-demographic characteristics, psychosocial factors, knowledge, attitude and preventive practices regarding tuberculosis was collected using a self-administered, WHO modified, pretested and validated questionnaires. Data collected was analysed using SPSS version 22. Results: Out of 226 respondents, 60(26.5%) had poor knowledge, 123(54.4%) had negative attitude and 48(21.2%) had poor preventive practices regarding tuberculosis. The predictors of knowledge were age (B=0.087, 95%CI=0.031, 0.143, p=0.002), depression (B=-0.444, 95%CI=-0.673,-0.214, p<0.001) monthly income (B=-0.058, 95%CI=-0.095, -0.021, p=0.002) and marital status (B=-1.276, 95%CI=-2.525,-0.025, P=0.046). The predictors of attitude were anxiety (B=-0.395, 95%CI=-0.584, -0.206, p<0.001), cigarette smoking (B=4.473, 95%CI=0.992, 7.954, p=0.012) and duration of HIV infection (B=0.371, 95%CI=0.110, 0.631, p=0.005). The predictors of practice were depression (B=-0.176, 95%CI=-0.276, -0.076, p=0.001), cigarette smoking (B=2.200, 95%CI=0.926, 3.474, p=0.001) and duration of HIV infection (B=0.098, 95%CI=0.003, 0.194, p=0.043). Conclusion: Overall, knowledge and practices regarding tuberculosis prevention were good, but attitude was poor. The predictors of knowledge, attitude and preventive practices were age, depression, anxiety, cigarette smoking, monthly income, marital status and duration of HIV infection.
ABSTRACT
Though cases of AIDS are visible in Nigeria and awareness of HIV is high, correct knowledge on HIV transmission and prevention has remained low with significant numbers of people living with HIV/AIDS having low attitudes towards life and the disease itself. This study determined the baseline knowledge on HIV transmission and prevention, and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS of adult HIV positive patient enrolled into care at all four comprehensive antiretroviral therapy (ART) sites in Yola, Nigeria. Baseline reports on the knowledge and attitudes of adult HIV positive patients were obtained from a three arm randomized single blind clinical trial involving 386 randomly selected adult HIV patients who were enrolled into ART care at all four comprehensive ART sites in Yola. An administered, validated structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Outcome measures were sound knowledge on HIV transmission and prevention, and attitudes towards HIV/AIDS. Data was analyzed using SPSS version 22. Test of significance was at α level 0.05. Overall 237 (61.4%) had sound knowledge on HIV transmission and prevention, while 346 (89.6%) of respondents had high attitudes towards HIV/AIDS. Though majority of respondents had sound knowledge on HIV transmission and prevention as well as high attitudes towards HIV/AIDS, interventions to improve knowledge and attitudes among this group of individuals would improve positive preventive strategies.