Knowledge, beliefs and feelings about tuberculosis among hospitalised patients at Dr Machupe Mphahlele Memorial Hospital in the Limpopo Province of South Africa

Abstract

The aim of this study was to ascertain base-line information on knowledge, beliefs and feelings about tuberculosis among hospitalized tuberculosis patients. The study was conducted at Dr Machupe Mphahlele Memorial Hospital in the Limpopo Province of South Africa. A sample of 40 tubercuJos is patients, 21 males (52,55%) and 19 women (47,5%), was interviewed. h ·om the sample of 40, 22 patients (55%) too k part in the focus group discussions. Fourteen members of the community, who are relatives of those patients who tookpart in thestud, y were also included in the focus group discussions. The focus group discussions were aimed at better understanding of both the community and the patients' beliefs and perceptions of tuberculosis.

The study revealed that the participants studied had a reasonably go od knowledge of tuberculosis. However, there was some confusio n regarding causative and risk factors of tuberculosis and some misconceptions thereof. The study has also found that traditional beliefs tend to impact on the patient's health seeking behaviour, treatment and the overall understanding of the disease.Tuberculosis treatment is still perceived by the majo rity of participants to being long, agonizing and cumbersome and there are still so me doubts as to whether tuberculosis is curable.

Participants believed that tuberculosis carries social stigma and thus patients feel isolated in their communities. The results also suggested that education does play a role in the perception of the disease. Participants who had tertiary and secondary education were found to be more knowledgeable on symptoms and health beliefs of tuberculosis than those participants who had primary education, and those who did not have education at all. Factors such as age and gender did not appear to have any influence on the knowledge and feelings of patients on tuberculosis. Therefore, based on the findings, culturally sensitive health education and consideration of the patients' educational level are important variables when dealing with tuberculosis patients.