Research Articles

Tuberculosis risk factors in Lephalale local municipality of Limpopo province, South Africa

Takalani G Tshitangano, T M Ramaliba, H A Akinsola, M Thendele
South African Family Practice | Vol 59, No 5 : September/October| a4557 | DOI: https://doi.org/10.4102/safp.v59i5.4557 | ©
Submitted: 05 September 2016 | Published: 31 October 2017

About the author(s)

Takalani G Tshitangano, University of Venda, South Africa
T M Ramaliba, University of Venda, South Africa
H A Akinsola, University of Venda, South Africa
M Thendele, University of Venda, South Africa

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Abstract

Lephalale local municipality is the leading sub-district in Limpopo province with 9.8% of deaths caused by tuberculosis. This study aimed to describe the risk factors for TB in Lephalale local municipality. A quantitative descriptive, cross-sectional survey design was used to target 148 registered TB patients aged 18 years and above in the sub-district’s 6 clinics. Approval and ethical clearance was obtained from the relevant authorities (SHS/15/PH/14/2006). Only respondents who agreed in writing to be part of the study were included. Ethical research principles were observed. A researcher-developed self-administered questionnaire was used to collect data. The data were analysed using the statistical Package for Social Sciences® version 22.0. Of 148 respondents, a high proportion of diagnosed TB patients (43.24%) were receiving less than R1 000 per month; the majority (53.38%) were unemployed; 22% were overcrowded in a single room; 31.8% had skipped taking TB medication at some point; 12% had previously worked in the mining industries; 37.16% never opened windows: 39.19% were from a rural settlement. TB risk factors in Lephalale include overcrowding, inadequate ventilation, TB treatment interruption, rural settlement, working in a mine, and low income. Educating communities about improving ventilation and treatment adherence as well as community empowerment with entrepreneurial skills might assist.

(Full text of the research articles are available online at www.medpharm.tandfonline.com/ojfp)

S Afr Fam Pract 2017; DOI: 10.1080/20786190.2017.1304734

Keywords

cultural; risk; socio-economic; tuberculosis

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