Abstract:
Background: - Despite global progress, 40 percent of TB cases in Africa and 29% in Ethiopia are
under-detected or under-reported. Ethiopia accounts for 3% of annually 3 million people with TB
in the world. The knowledge and practices of the health extension workers are not known yet in
the study area.
Objective: - To assess the levels of knowledge and practices toward tuberculosis case detection
and associated factors among health extension workers working in West Shoa Zone Oromia,
Ethiopia, 2023
Methods: Institution-based quantitative cross-sectional study design conducted between
November 2022 to January 2023. Data were collected from 420 study participants using a
structured questionnaire using simple random sampling techniques.. The collected data were
entered into Epi info version 7 and analyzed by SPSS version 20 software. Variables with a p value < 0.25 in the Bivariable binary logistic regression analysis were candidate variables for
the final model. In multivariable binary logistic regression model fitting, variables with a p value < 0.05 with 95% CI and AOR were declared statistically significant to outcome variables.
Result: In this study, 420 study participants participated in the study with a response rate of
97.6%. The study findings showed that among the study participants, 51.2% had a good knowledge
level and 51.1% demonstrated good practices in tuberculosis case detection. Training (AOR =
3.149, 95% CI: 0.1239-8.005, p = 0.016) and presence of TB guidelines (AOR = 3.050, 95% CI:
1.346-6.911, p = 0.008) are significantly associated with good knowledge. Being married aged 25-
34 years old (AOR = 3.438, 95% CI: 1.392-8.494, p = 0.007), and having good knowledge (AOR
= 1.853, 95% CI: 1.157-2.967, p = 0.01) are significantly associated factors of Practice.
Conclusion: The study found that half of the health extension workers had a good knowledge,
attitude, and practice which is relatively good but not satisfactory to effective TB case detection.
Interventions that improve their knowledge and practice level should be implemented including
regular supportive supervision, availing health facilities with TB guidelines, and providing
compressive training on tuberculosis prevention and control.
