Publication
Knowledge and practice of health workers about control and prevention of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in referral hospitals, Ethiopia: a cross-sectional study
Publisher:
BMJ
Date:
02-2019
DOI:
10.1136/BMJOPEN-2018-022948
Abstract: The aim of this study was to assess the knowledge and practice of health workers about multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) prevention and control. A cross-sectional study was conducted at Gondar University Referral Hospital and Felege Hiwot Referral Hospital. Randomly selected health workers (ie, medical doctor, nurse, health officer, pharmacy, medical laboratory and midwifery) were the study participants. The main outcomes were knowledge and self-reported practice of health workers about MDR-TB. A total of 377 health workers (with a response rate of 93.7%) participated in the study. The majority of respondents were nurses (52.5%, n=198) and medical doctors (15.6%, n=59). The mean knowledge score was seven out of 10 149 (39.5%) of respondents scored seven or more which was considered as good knowledge. MDR-TB knowledge of health workers was significantly associated with having a postgraduate degree (adjusted odds ratio (AOR)=5.78 95% CI 2.33 to 14.33), taking infection prevention training (AOR=1.79 95% CI 1.00, to 3.17) and having a history of tuberculosis (TB) (AOR=1.85 95% CI 1.12, to 3.03). The mean self-reported practice score was four out of seven one-fifth (19.6%) of respondents scored four or more which was considered as good practice. Self-reported practice of health workers was significantly associated with working at internal medicine (AOR=4.64 95% CI 1.99, to 10.81) and paediatrics (AOR=3.85 95% CI 1.11, to 13.34) wards, being in the age groups of 26–30 years (AOR=2.70 95% CI 1.27, to 5.76), and 30 years and above (AOR=4.42 95% CI 1.77, to 11.00). This study found low knowledge and self-reported practice score among health workers. MDR-TB knowledge of health workers was significantly associated with educational status, infection prevention training and previous history of TB. This finding highlights the potential of providing MDR-TB training for health workers to increase their knowledge about MDR-TB.