1. Assessment of current practices in management of childhood TB among frontline clinicians in Southern Nigeria.
- Author
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Chukwu JN, Ukwaja KN, Ekeke N, Nwafor CC, Meka AO, Madichie NO, Anyim MC, Ogbudebe C, Adegbesan J, Ikebudu J, and Oshi DC
- Subjects
- Adolescent, Adult, Child, Child, Preschool, Cross-Sectional Studies, Female, Humans, Infant, Male, Middle Aged, Nigeria, Surveys and Questionnaires, Young Adult, Antitubercular Agents therapeutic use, Clinical Competence, Health Personnel standards, Practice Guidelines as Topic, Tuberculosis diagnosis, Tuberculosis drug therapy
- Abstract
Background: Poor competence of clinicians may be a critical factor responsible for the under-diagnosis of childhood TB in high-burden settings. Our objective was to assess the current practices of management of childhood TB among clinicians in Nigeria., Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted among clinicians recruited through a three-stage sampling technique from 76 health facilities in Southern Nigeria. A semi-structured questionnaire was administered to all participants., Results: Of 106 clinicians who completed the survey, 73 (68.9%) were <40 years and 67 (63.2%) were males. Also, 14 (13.2%) were paediatricians, 22 (20.8%) were paediatric specialist trainees and 70 (66%) were medical officers in primary and secondary care health facilities. About 94% of the respondents perceived diagnosis of childhood TB a challenge in Nigeria. The overall mean (SD) knowledge score was 3.8±0.9 (maximum 5), and 68 (64.2%) had good knowledge of childhood TB. The mean (SD) appropriate practice score was 4.0±1.7 (maximum 10) and, only 8 (7.5%) of them were considered to have adopted appropriate practices regarding childhood TB care., Conclusions: There are gaps in practices adopted by frontline clinicians in the management of childhood TB in Nigeria. Focused training of health workers on childhood TB care is urgently recommended., (© The Author 2016. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Royal Society of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)
- Published
- 2016
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