Pulmonary Tuberculosis Prevalence among Female Commercial Head Porters in Accra, 2011

ABSTRACT 

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) affects persons mostly in their productive lives. Ghana relies on passive case finding strategy to detect TB which has resulted in low case detection. Female rural urban migrants (“Kayayei”) have poor health care seeking habits and prevalence of TB among them is unknown. Kayayei may lack basic knowledge about TB which could contribute to their healthcare seeking behavior resulting in low TB case detection. 

Objective: To determine PTB prevalence rate among Kayayei in Mallam Atta market in Accra. 

Method: A cross-sectional study was conducted between October and November 201 at the Mallam Atta Market which was randomly selected among other markets through a box draw. About 846 Kayayei were screened out of which 160 met the eligibility criteria. Eligible Kayayei completed structured questionnaire for socio-demographic characteristics, risk factor profile, knowledge and symptoms of PTB. Sputa were obtained from participants for detection of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. Positive samples were expressed per 100,000 populations. Factors associated with health seeking behavior and PTB knowledge were analyzed at 95% confidence 

level. 

Results: Of the 160 Kayayei who participated, one tested positive by smear microcopy and two tested positive using liquid culture, giving a prevalence rate of 120 per 100,000 and 230 per 100,000 respectively. Three fourth 120/160 (75%) had no formal education while 130/160 (81.3%) had been coughing for two weeks and more.  One hundred and thirty seven (85.6%) did not know the mode of transmission while 120/160 (75%) were ignorant about the signs and symptoms of TB. Fifteen (9.5%) had heard about TB from health workers.  Most 144/160 (90%) would seek care through traditional methods. Participants who had never had TB were less likely (Prevalence odds =0.07, 95% CI= 0.01- 0.9) to have knowledge of the signs and symptoms. 

Conclusion: Pulmonary TB among Kayayei poses serious public health threat especially to clientele of head porterage. PTB prevalence found in this study is 120 per 100,000 Kayayei compared to the national prevalence of 92 per 100,000. In this study, poor knowledge about the mode of PTB transmission, signs and symptoms, and inappropriate health care seeking behavior among study participants were identified.