Tuberculosis patients’ knowledge and beliefs about tuberculosis: a mixed methods study from the Pacific Island nation of Vanuatu

BMC Public Health

Adrian Sleigh⁴  David Harley⁴  Paul Kelly⁵  Nguyen N Linh²  Saen Fanai³  Markleen Tagaro³  Penelope Johnson¹  Kerri A Viney⁴ 

[1] History and Language (RSPAS), College of Asia and the Pacific, Australian National University. School of Culture, Canberra ACT 0200, Australia;Global TB Programme, World Health Organization; formerly from The Division of Pacific Technical Support, World Health Organization Representative Office in the South Pacific, Suva, Fiji;Ministry of Health, PB 9009 Port Vila, Vanuatu;National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Australian National University, Building 62, Corner of Eggleston and Mills Roads, 0200 Canberra, Australian Capital Territory, Australia;Australian National University Medical School, Level 2, Peter Baume Building, 42 Linnaeus Way, Canberra ACT 0200, Australia

关键词: Mixed-methods;    Diagnosis;    Health-seeking;    Vanuatu;    Tuberculosis;   

Others  :  1130598
DOI  :  10.1186/1471-2458-14-467

 received in 2013-11-02, accepted in 2014-05-06,  发布年份 2014

【 摘 要 】

Background

The setting for this study was the Pacific island nation of Vanuatu, an archipelago of 82 islands, located in the South Pacific Ocean. Our objective was to assess the knowledge, attitudes and practices of tuberculosis (TB) patients towards TB.

Methods

This was a descriptive study using qualitative and quantitative methods. Quantitative analysis was based on the responses provided to closed questions, and we present frequencies to describe the TB patients’ knowledge, attitudes and practice relating to TB. Qualitative analysis was based on open questions permitting fuller explanations. We used thematic analysis and developed a posteriori inductive categories to draw conclusions.

Results

Thirty five TB patients were interviewed; 22 (63%) were male. They attributed TB to cigarettes, kava, alcohol, contaminated food, sharing eating utensils and “kastom” (the local term for the traditional way of life, but also for sorcery). Most (94%) did not attribute TB to a bacterial cause. However, almost all TB patients (89%) thought that TB was best treated at a hospital with antibiotics. Three quarters (74%) experienced stigma after their TB diagnosis.

Seeking health care from a traditional healer was common; 54% of TB patients stated that they would first consult a traditional healer for any illness. When seeking a diagnosis for signs and symptoms of TB, 34% first consulted a traditional healer. Patients cited cost, distance and beliefs about TB causation as reasons for first consulting a traditional healer or going to the hospital. Of the TB patients who consulted a traditional healer first, there was an average of two weeks delay before they consulted the health service. In some cases, however, the delay was up to six years.

Conclusion

The majority of the TB patients interviewed did not attribute TB to a bacterial cause. Consulting a traditional healer for health care, including while seeking a diagnosis for TB symptoms, was common and may have delayed diagnosis. People require better information about TB to correct commonly held misperceptions about the disease. Traditional healers could also be engaged with the national TB programme, in order to refer people with signs and symptoms of TB to the nearest health service.

【 授权许可】

   
2014 Viney et al.; licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

【 图 表 】

Figure 1.

Figure 2.

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