KNOWLEDGE GAP ABOUT TUBERCULOSIS CASE DETECTION AMONG PATENT MEDICINE VENDORS IN OSOGBO: IMPLICATIONS FOR SOCIAL WORK

Olarewaju Sunday Olakunle*, Oladimeji Olanrewaju, Olarewaju A.O, Akinlolu Fasanmi, Uche Ralph-Opara

ABSTRACT

Background information: In Nigeria, a high proportion of patients affected with tuberculosis seek treatment from patent medicine vendors. This study seeks to assess the knowledge and current practices of Patent Medicine Vendors in TB control in Nigeria. Methodology: This was a descriptive cross sectional study, carried out among Patent Medicine Vendors in Osogbo, Osun- State, South-western Nigeria. The multi-stage sampling technique was used to select the respondents and data was collected with pre-tested, semi-structured questionnaires which were interview administered and supervised by trained research assistants. A total of 159 questionnaires were administered. Data were analyzed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences version 17. Level of significance was set with p-value less than or equal to 0.05. Result: Majority of the respondents (138, 86.8%) were within 20 – 39 years of age with a mean age of 31.9 + 6.5 years, (84, 52.8%) were male, married (66.7%) and Yoruba (86.2%). Most of the respondents (101, 63.5%) were aware of the disease called tuberculosis, but only 108 (67.9%) had adequate knowledge after scoring the outcome variables for knowledge and categorizing the scores. Also, more than one quarter i.e 46 (28.9%) have not been referring TB suspect to Treatment centres. There is a significant association between religion and knowledge (P< 0.05) as well as Knowledge and Practice (P<0.05) Conclusion: The study revealed that the level of awareness about tuberculosis among respondents was high, but their comprehensive knowledge was low thereby emphasis should be laid on training and retraining of Patent Medicine Vendors in Osogbo towards improving TB case detection.

Keywords: In Nigeria, a high proportion of patients affected with tuberculosis seek treatment from patent medicine vendors.