The relationship of socio-economic status on contraction of Tuberculosis among TB patients in Windhoek District, Namibia: a public health practice perspective
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Date
2014
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Abstract
The purpose for this study was to identify the risk factors of inpatients infected with Tuberculosis at Katutura Intermediate Hospital in Windhoek district, Namibia. A quantitative descriptive study was conducted among patients from the Windhoek district who were on first-line treatment for Tuberculosis at Katutura Intermediate Hospital, during the period of the study (June-August 2011). The universal sampling method was used and all 38 inpatients with Tuberculosis participated in the study. The socio-economic factors which are conducive to the transmission of Tuberculosis infection among the participants were identified and described. The findings revealed that the highest rate of TB infection was among the participants of the most productive age of 21-50 years. Moreover, the majority (70%) of the participants were the residents of the severely poverty stricken informal settlements in the Windhoek district. Consequently, the results concluded that lack of education, subsequent unemployment, low wages, poor housing and poor nutrition, alcohol abuse, smoking among the participants seem to fuel the high rate of infection with Tuberculosis, while stigma that is associated with the disease delays seeking of treatment.
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Keywords
Tuberculosis, Socio-economic status, Poverty
Citation
Murimba, W., Kopano, R., Amakali, K., & Amukugo, H. (2014). The relationship of socio-economic status on contraction of Tuberculosis among TB patients in Windhoek District, Namibia: a public health practice perspective. Online Journal of Medicine and Medical Science Research, 3(2), 8-12.