Knowledge Impact Survey Of Tuberculosis And Human Immunodeficiency Virus (HIV) Infection In Aba, Nigeria

Abstract

The liaison between TB and HIV-infection is a major threat to the health of the public worldwide. Despite wide publicity and educational awareness programmes on these deadly diseases, the much expected positive public reactions, which would facilitate their effective control and prevention, seem to be elusive. Thus, survey of the knowledge of TB and HIV/AIDS among the general population in Aba was necessitated with the view to evaluate certain sociodemographic characteristics of the people which impact on their knowledge of TB and HIV/AIDS.
The respondents for the study were randomly selected from two bus  loading bays and two Urban Markets in Aba. Structured questionnaires were administered to the respondents who volunteered information on their
knowledge of the existence of the two diseases as well as their signs and symptoms. A total of 618 respondents interviewed, over 90% across the r age range of 18 to 64 years claimed knowledge of the existence of the two diseases. When sorted into occupational groups, 100% of students and civil servants had heard about HIV/AIDS, while approximately 97.0% had similar knowledge for TB. For the artisans, traders, and drivers/cyclists, the knowledge of HIV/AIDS and TB ranged from 82.0% to 95.9%. The nondependence of knowledge of the two diseases on sex and age notwithstanding, it seems that people showed apprehension when TB is mentioned, and overwhelmingly stigmatized against HIV/AIDS.
Key Words: Tuberculosis and HIV/AIDS, Knowledge, Survey.