Practices of Nursing Students regarding the Prevention and Control of Multidrug-resistant Tuberculosis at the University of Namibia (UNAM) Southern Campus
Abstract
Background: Tuberculosis infection is one of the major public health concerns. An estimated 480,000 new cases of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis (MDR-TB) and 190,000 deaths were seen in 2014 globally. Despite interventions, Namibia is among the countries with the highest per capita burden of tuberculosis, which is one of the top 10 causes of death in Namibia. To minimise the new cases, all health professionals, including nursing students, must exercise good practices in the prevention and control of MDR-TB.
Aim: The main objective was to determine the practices of nursing students regarding the prevention and control of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis at the University of Namibia (UNAM), Southern Campus.
Methods: A quantitative, descriptive study was conducted on the nursing students at UNAM, Southern Campus, Namibia. A sample size of 58 students was calculated. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire, and collected data were analysed using the SPSS version 25.
Results: Many of the respondents were female (81%) and 19% of the participants were male. Most of the respondents showed good practices towards the prevention and control of MDR-TB.
Conclusion: UNAM School of Nursing should continue to emphasise good practices among nursing students regarding the prevention and control of MDR-TB. It was also recommended that the School of Nursing, in collaboration with the Ministry of Health and Social Services (MoHSS), must ensure that the wards have enough N95 masks in stock and that nursing students have an opportunity to attend short courses
on tuberculosis to acquire the necessary knowledge and skills regarding the prevention and control of MDR-TB.
How to cite this article:
Practices of Nursing Students regarding the Prevention and Control of Multidrug-resistant Tuberculosis at the University of Namibia(UNAM) Southern Campus. J Commun Dis. 2023;55(4):105-110.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.24321/0019.5138.202362
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