| dc.description.abstract | Tuberculosis (TB) is a re-emerging infectious disease of international health priority
and particularly worrisome in poor resource setting countries including Nigeria.
Although treatment for Tuberculosis is free in Nigeria, TB patients face various
barriers in day-to-day life; isolation and rejection from families and communities.
Concerns and expectations of TB patients such as social support from family members
are needed to be understood for improving patients’ adherence with and completion of
treatment regimens. In Nigeria, patients’ perceptions of social support received from
their family have not been well explored. This study investigates perceived social
supports received by Tuberculosis patients from family members during active
treatment in selected tuberculosis treatment centres in Ibadan.
The study was a descriptive cross-sectional survey. Purposive sampling technique was
used in selecting 400 consenting TB patients receiving care in four treatment centres in
Ibadan North East and Ibadan South West Local Government Areas, Oyo State. A
validated interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on
respondents’ socio-demographic characteristics, co-morbidity conditions, activities of
daily living, history of the disease, perceived needs, perceived social support,
typology, sources and adequacy of support, forms of psycho-social support and
adequacy of economic and financial support. Activities of daily living were measured
on a 20-point functional status rating scale; scores <12 and >12 were categorised as
non-functional and functional respectively. Data were analysed using descriptive and
inferential statistics at p=0.05.
Respondents’ age was 36.4 ± 1.4 years; majority (59.5%) were married, 74.5% had
monogamous family and 36.5% were aged 40 years and above. More than half
respondents, 54.2%, were male; 33.8% and 51.2% were traders and had secondary
school education respectively. Respondents’ mean income was N18, 224.00 and
ranged between ₦0.00 and ₦600, 000.00. Majority were diagnosed of TB and
receiving treatment at government hospitals (62.8% and 68.0% respectively). A few
respondents, 16.8%, had co-morbidity conditions; some male and female had family
history of Tuberculosis (23.0% and 32.8% respectively). On perception of needs
relating to income and food, majority (68.0%) no longer had sources of regular income
and 41.5% had difficulties eating three times daily. 48% reported not receiving enough
support from family members and 29.5% felt abandoned. More than half (male,
53.5%; female, 54.1%) reported that they could do daily routine at work even with the
condition. On perceived social support received, 59.0% respondents reported that
family members assisted them to overcome some challenges experienced due to the
disease and 57.8% indicated having special persons who were sources of comfort.
Level of emotional support received was adequate for majority (72.0%). More than
half (53.5%) respondents required assistance to perform their daily chores. There was
significant relationship between family type, level of education and functional status.
No significant relationship was found between social support received and functional
status.
Most respondents had no source of regular income and majority received various
forms of supports. However, more than half were non-functional. Advocacy and public
enlightenment directed at community members would be useful in addressing this gap. | en_US |
