Evaluating Tuberculosis (TB) Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices among Staff at Rural Health Centers (RHC’s), Islamabad

Abstract

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the oldest known illnesses and is a significant cause of mortality worldwide, particularly in less developed countries. Pakistan is confronted with significant public health challenges, ranking fifth in the world in terms of the prevalence of tuberculosis (TB). Tuberculosis is the leading infectious disease killer, with 9.4 million new cases and 1.7 million deaths annually. Drug-resistant TB has also increased. Pakistan has 265 tuberculosis cases per 100,000 people, with 510,000 new cases and 15,000 drug-resistant cases annually. Rural health clinics (RHCs) are crucial to the global fight against tuberculosis (TB) because they provide diagnosis and treatment. Rural areas have higher rates of tuberculosis (TB), but mistrust of doctors, delayed diagnosis, and inadequate treatment persist. These factors increase TB morbidity and death and create drug-resistant strains.In rural Islamabad, TB treatment facilities are inadequate, and many medical staff lack the education and interpersonal skills essential for effective treatment. This study examines Islamabad RHC healthcare personnel' knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP). This will prepare efficient policies to promote primary healthcare and reduce the TB epidemic. Method: A structured questionnaire that was modified from a study done in Southern Mozambique was used to perform a cross-sectional survey. The survey, which was translated into Urdu, was directed at HCWs working at RHCs in Islamabad. Demographics, knowledge, attitudes, and practices made up its four components. With the use of SPSS software, data were gathered from 112 participants and examined Results: There were 92 HCWs in the study, and the distribution of genders was almost equal. Most of the respondents had bachelor's degrees and were between the ages of 23 and 42. While most participants had a lot of job experience, almost half had never had TB-specific training. A high degree of general TB knowledge was indicated by the average knowledge score of 15.35 out of 20. Nonetheless, notable deficiencies were detected in several domains, namely diagnostic instruments, and therapeutic approaches. Most respondents recognised the significance of infection control and community participation, as evidenced by their high attitude scores. However, stigma around tuberculosis persisted as a significant problem. There were gaps in the practical understanding of TB treatment and follow-up, making the practice competency moderate. Conclusion: The study shows that while health care workers (HCWs) at RHCs in Islamabad possess a strong basic grasp of tuberculosis (TB), there are notable gaps in their knowledge on diagnosis and treatment. Although there are many people who have positive attitudes about tuberculosis control, stigma still exists. Enhancing practical skills is necessary, highlighting the need for focused training interventions and ongoing professional development. By filling in these gaps, the TB burden in Pakistan can be eventually decreased by improving TB management and control in rural areas.