Effect of Health Education Program on Knowledge, Attitude, and Practice Towards Tuberculosis among Nomads in Adamawa State, Nigeria

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DOI: 10.21522/TIJPH.2013.12.03.Art067

Authors : Stephen John, Bappah Lawan, Abubakar A. Ahmad, Suraj Abdulkarim

Abstract:

Nomadic communities pose a significant challenge in the ongoing battle against tuberculosis (TB) because of their restricted healthcare access and limited knowledge about the disease. This study assessed the effectiveness of a health education program conducted using a newly developed training module on TB prevention knowledge, attitudes, and practices among nomads in Adamawa State, Nigeria. The developed module was based on the Integrated Behaviour Model (IBM). A quasi-experimental survey approach that included both intervention and control groups was used. The module was implemented by researchers in the intervention group. An interviewer-administered, validated, and structured questionnaire was used for data collection. Data was collected at baseline, immediate post-intervention, and 6-month follow-up surveys to evaluate their knowledge, attitudes, and behaviors related to TB. The results reveal a significant increase in the post-intervention score of the intervention group on knowledge (from 21.91 to 27.94 and p=.000), attitude (from 19.63 to 23.99 and p=.000), and practice (from 17.48 to 24.19 and p=.000). The findings suggest that the newly developed module resulted in a significant improvement in the Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) ratings of the intervention group compared to the control group. This positive effect was still present after a 6-month follow-up period, with statistical significance (p < 0.05). This study showcases the substantial influence of TB health education modules in improving TB awareness and fostering favorable behavioral modifications among nomadic people. This strategy has the potential to serve as a helpful tool in enhancing knowledge, attitude, and practice related to TB, ultimately could lead to a decrease in TB incidence among the Nomads; one of the TB Key and vulnerable populations in Nigeria.

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