Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices of Non-Health Allied College Students in the Philippine National Capital Region on Multidrug-Resistant Mycobacterium Tuberculosis

Abstract

Multidrug-resistant Mycobacterium tuberculosis (MDR-TB) infection has become a challenge in healthcare due to limited access to therapeutic drugs as seen in developing countries such as the Philippines, which according to the World Health Organization ranks fourth among countries with the cases of tuberculosis as of 2019. The study aimed to assess the level of knowledge, attitudes, and practices of college students who are taking non-health allied courses in the National Capital Region (NCR) of the Philippines regarding MDR-TB as a bacterial infection. A quantitative descriptive study was conducted in the NCR, Philippines. A total of 407 participants were selected by convenience sampling. Data collection was conducted through an online questionnaire containing questions dedicated to knowledge, attitudes, and practices towards MDR-TB. The study found that among the respondents, 71.5% have good knowledge, 63.6% have favorable attitudes, and 57% have favorable practices. Moreover, a significant relationship was found between knowledge and attitudes (p=0.025), knowledge and practices (p=0.002), and attitudes and practices (p=0.018). Further analysis of the weighted mean response per question indicated generally favorable responses across all inquiry sections except for an item pertaining to knowledge on the prevalence of MDR-TB. Despite having good knowledge, attitudes, and practices, the respondents demonstrated poor knowledge particularly on the prevalence of MDR-TB, which must be addressed especially in high-prevalence areas primarily due to its nature as a communicable disease.