Knowledge, Attitude, and Practices Toward Tuberculosis Among Health Faculty and Non-Health Faculty Students of Kabul University and Kabul University of Medical Sciences, Kabul, Afghanistan

Figures & data

Table 1 Students’ Sociodemographic Characteristics

Characteristics		Number (Percentage)
Sex	Female	199 (49.8%)
	Male	201 (50.2%)
Faculty	Health- faculties	105 (26.3%)
	Non-health faculties	295 (73.7%)
Residence	City	338 (84.5%)
	Village	62 (15.5%)
Year of education	1st year students	124 (31%)
	2nd year students	95 (23.8%)
	3rd year students	88 (22%)
	4th year students	93 (23.25%)

Table 2 Students’ Knowledge About TB

Variables	Health Faculty Students			Non-Health Faculty Students
	Yes n (%)	No n (%)	Do not Know n (%)	Yes n (%)	No n (%)	Do not Know n (%)
1. Have you ever heard of an illness called TB?	104 (99%)	1 (1%)	0	290 (98.3%)	3 (1%)	2 (0.7%)
2. TB can occur anywhere in the body.	55 (52.4%)	41 (39%)	9 (8.6%)	109 (36.9%)	91 (30.8%)	95 32.2%
3. What causes Tuberculosis?
a. Cold Air	50 (47.5%)	31 (29.5%)	24 (22.9%)	178 (60.3%)	46 (15.6%)	71 (24.1%)
b. Smoking	69 (65.7%)	20 (19%)	16 (15.2%)	180 (61%)	36 (12.2%)	79 (26.8%)
c. Dust	82 (78.1%)	10 (9.5%)	13 (12.3%)	215 (72.9%)	16 (5.4%)	64 (21.7%)
4. Can TB transmit through…?
a. Cough/breathe	99 (94.3%)	4 (3.8%)	2 (1.9%)	235 (79.6%)	29 (9.8%)	31 (10.5%)
b. Sexual contact	36 (34.3%)	49 (46.7%)	20 (19%)	119 (40.3%)	76 (25.8%)	100 (33.9%)
5. What are Symptoms of Tuberculosis?
a. Cough for two weeks	91 (86.7%)	4 (3.8%)	10 (9.5%)	249 (84.4%)	11 (3.7%)	35 (11.9%)
b. Chest pain	98 (93.35)	3 (2.9%)	4 (3.8%)	234 (79.3%)	12 (4.1%)	49 (16.6%)
c. Weight and appetite loss	83 (79%)	12 (11.4%)	10 (9.5%)	209 (70.8%)	19 (6.4%)	67 (22.7%)
d. Night sweating	73 (69.5%)	11 (10.5%)	21 (20%)	148 (50.2%)	18 (6.1%)	129 (43.7%)
6. Is TB preventable disease?	100 (95.2%)	3 (2.9%)	2 (1.9%)	257 (87.1%)	11 (3.7%)	27 (9.2%)
7. Can TB be prevented by covering mouth while coughing?	89 (84.8%)	6 (5.7%)	10 (9.5%)	209 (70.8%)	36 (12.2%)	45 (17%)
8. Can TB be Cured?	100 (95.2%)	3 (2.9%)	2 (1.9%)	256 (86.8%)	15 (5.1%)	24 (8.1%)
9. Can TB be cured by herbal remedies?	33 (31.4%)	20 (19%)	52 (49.5%)	102 (34.6%)	57 (19.3%)	136 (46.1%)
10. Can TB be cured by home rest without treatment?	8 (7.6%)	81 (77.1%)	16 (15.2%)	42 (14.2%)	184 (62.4%)	69 (23.4%)
11. TB can only be treated if there are obvious symptoms.	48 (45.7%)	49 (46.7%)	8 (7.6%)	129 (43.7%)	88 (29.9%)	78 (26.4%)
12. Is TB treatment difficult and if anti TB drugs are not taken regularly, it can lead to drug resistance?	57 (54.3%)	19 (18.1%)	29 (27.6%)	109 (36.9%)	53 (18%)	133 (45.1%)
13. Is TB treatment free in Afghanistan?	53 (50.5%)	30 (28.6%)	22 (21%)	82 (27.8%)	108 (36.6%)	105 (35.6%)

Abbreviations: n, number of students; %, percentage.

Table 3 Students’ Attitude About TB

Variables	Health Faculty Students			Non-Health Faculty Students
	Yes n (%)	No n (%)	Do Not Know n (%)	Yes n (%)	No n (%)	Do Not Know n (%)
Would you be willing to work with someone previously treated for TB?	72 (68.6%)	23 (21.9%)	10 (9.5%)	169 (57.3%)	87 (29.5%)	39 (13.2%)
Would you want a family member’s TB to be kept secret?	62 (59%)	29 (27.6%)	14 (13.3%)	181 (61.4%)	89 (30.2%)	25 (8.5%)
Do you think you can get TB?	63 (60%)	20 (19%)	22 (21%)	158 (53.6%)	70 (23.7%)	67 (22.7%)
What would be your reaction if you found out that you have TB?
Answers	Fear		Hopelessness	Shame	Sadness	Acceptance*
Health Faculties	8 (7.6%)		4 (3.8%)	4 (3.8%)	2 (1.9%)	87 (82.9%)
Non-Health Faculties	53 (18%)		13 (4.4%)	19 (6.4%)	24 (8.1%)	186 (63.1%)
I am interested in finding out more about TB.
Answers	SA, n(%)		A, n(%)	DA, n(%)		SD, n(%)
Health Faculties	11 (10.5%)		83 (79%)	10 (9.5%)		1 (1%)
Non-Health Faculties	42 (14.2%)		215 (72.9%)	24 (8.1%)		14 (4.7%)
I think education about TB is very much needed.
Answers	SA, n(%)		A, n(%)	DA, n(%)		SD, n(%)
Health Faculties	14 (13.3%)		66 (62.9%)	22 (21%)		3 (2.9%)
Non-Health Faculties	30 (10.2%)		128 (43.4%)	109 (36.9%)		28 (9.5%)
I would encourage those with TB around me to obtain treatment.
Answers	SA, n(%)		A, n(%)	DA, n(%)		SD, n(%)
Health Faculties	24 (22.9%)		70 (66.7%)	11 (10.5%)		0
Non-Health Faculties	40 (13.6%)		198 (67.1%)	38 (12.9%)		19 (6.4%)

Note: *Acceptance and seeking health care.

Abbreviations: SA, Strongly agree; A, Agree; DA, Disagree; SD, Strongly disagree; n, number of students; %, percentage.

Table 4 Students’ Practices About TB

What would you do if you thought you had symptoms of TB?
Answers	Go to a health facility	Go to a pharmacy	Go to traditional healers	self-treatment
Health Faculties	67 (63.8%)	8 (7.6%)	6 (5.7%)	24 (22.9%)
Non-Health Faculties	173 (58.6%)	80 (27.1%)	21 (7.1%)	21 (7.1%)
If you had symptoms of TB, at what point would you seek medical help?
Answers	When treatment on my own does not work	When TB symptoms last for two or more weeks	As soon as I realize TB symptoms	Don’t know
Health Faculties	14 (13.3%)	36 (34.3%)	50 (47.6%)	5 (4.8%)
Non-Health Faculties	69 (23.4%)	101 (34.2%)	102 (34.6%)	23 (7.8%)
If you would not go to the health facility, what is the reason?
Answers	I didn’t refuse to go to the hospital	Not sure where to go	Cost of the services	Do not trust health care workers	Can’t leave my work
Health Faculties	62 (59%)	3 (2.9%)	18 (17.1%)	13 (12.4%)	9 (8.6%)
Non-Health Faculties	148 (50.2%)	15 (5.1%)	82 (27.8%)	39 (13.2%)	11 (3.7%)

Table 5 Differences in Students’ Knowledge, Attitude and Practices Toward TB According to Students’ Characteristics

Variables	Categories	Knowledge		Attitude		Practices
		Level of Good Knowledge	*P value	Level of Good Attitude	P value	Level of Good Practices	P value
Faculty	Health faculties	18.1%	<0.01	27.6%	0.03	41.9%	0.024
	Non-health faculties	2.4%		14.9%		29.8%
Sex	Female	5.5%	0.731	19.6%	0.722	31.2%	0.435
	Male	7.5%		16.9%		34.8%
Year of education	1st year Students	3.22%	0.07	16.12%	0.871	36.2%	0.561
	2nd year Students	4.21%		16.8%		27.3%
	3rd year Students	6.81%		22.7%		32.95%
	4th year Students	12.9%		18.27%		34.4%

Notes: All analyses were by chi-square-test and cross-tabulation, *Significance level was set at p-value < 0.05.