Online Survey on the Acceptance of Latent Tuberculosis Testing and Isoniazid Preventive Therapy among Healthcare Workers in Nigeria
Solomon Obinna Obidigbo
Department of Public Health, Maiduguri Study Center, National Open University of Nigeria, Nigeria.
Fatima Ibrahim Makintami
Nigeria Agriculture Quarantine Services (NAQS), Nigeria.
Yusuf Madaki Lekko
Department of Veterinary Medicine, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria.
Mohammed Usman Sajo
Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria.
Francis Enenche Ejeh
*
Department of Public Health, Maiduguri Study Center, National Open University of Nigeria, Nigeria and Department of Veterinary Microbiology, University of Maiduguri, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Background: Healthcare workers in Nigeria are exposed to myriads of occupational risks including workplace acquired infections such as tuberculosis.
Methods: This study was a cross-sectional survey and used google form to administer the questionnaire via social media networks. Descriptive statistical methods were used to summarize data on socio-demographic characteristics and responses to questions, Microsoft excel and SPSS version 20.0 for statistical analysis of data summarized as categorical variables, frequency (n) and percentages (%).
Results: About six out of ten of the participants believed that they could be severely ill if they got tuberculosis. Majority of respondents 413 (89.2%) reported acceptance of latent TB testing while 87.7% agreed to take Isoniazid treatment if they test positive for LTBI. The occupational risk group was found to be less likely to accept LTBI testing. Also, respondents from the Northeast (OR = 4.225; 95% CI = 1.216-14.688; p value = 0.023) and southeast (OR = 4.494; 95% CI = 1.382-14.609; p value = 0.012) were four times more likely to accept isoniazid preventive treatment respectively. Participants who held that tuberculosis is a serious disease were more likely to accept isoniazid preventive treatment (OR = 2.220; 95% CI = 1.100-4.480 p value = 0.026). The majority of the HCW (56%) in the study never get tested for LTBI.
Conclusion: the majority of the healthcare workers in this study showed that TB is a dangerous disease and agreed to get regular testing and isoniazid therapy to prevent tuberculosis.
Keywords: Isoniazid preventive therapy, latent tuberculosis, vaccination, BCG vaccine, vaccine acceptance