Abstract:
Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is a major global public health problem and one
of the leading causes of death among infectious diseases. Noncompliance with the
treatment remains the main challenge for TB prevention and control. Poor
compliance may cause prolonged disease infectiousness, drug resistance, relapse,
and death. Multiple underlying factors linked to noncompliance with treatment
need to be addressed to promote compliance with treatment.
Objective: To assess awareness of Tuberculosis treatment and identify the
influence of socio-demographic factors on compliance with TB treatment among
TB patients in the chest clinic, Jaffna.
Methodology: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among patients
who were ≥18 years registered from 1
st of June 2020 to 31st of May 2022 with
pulmonary tuberculosis in the Chest clinic, Jaffna. Data was collected by using an
interviewer-administered questionnaire and statistical software SPSS 25 is used to
analyse the data. Data was presented in frequencies and percentages and Chi-square
test was used to find the association. Ethical approval was obtained from ERC,
Faculty of Medicine, University of Jaffna.
Results: Totally 259 patients participated in the study. The mean age was 56.6
years. The majority of the study participants were males (70.3%). Most of them
were Sri Lankan Tamils (84.2%). Among them, 78.4% patients had good treatment
compliance. Almost all of them (99.2%) knew the duration of the Tuberculosis
treatment period as 6-12 months and they were aware that Tuberculosis can be
cured by regular treatment (87.6%). BCG is given to prevent primary Tuberculosis
(91.1%), Most of them (94.6%) knew sputum samples are used to diagnose
pulmonary Tuberculosis. Also, nearly 70% were aware of Tuberculosis treatment.
Age, education level, occupation and family monthly income, were shown the
statistical significance with the treatment compliance on Tuberculosis.
Conclusion: The majority of the participants had good treatment compliance. Age,
education level, occupation and family monthly income were showed the statistical
significance with the Tuberculosis treatment.
