Assessment of knowledge, perceptions and beliefs related to tuberculosis in the rural, communities of Vhembe District in Limpopo Province

Abstract

The purpose of the study was to assessthe knowledge, perceptions, and health beliefs related to TB among people in the rural communities of Vhembe District in Limpopo Province. The research design was qualitative, descriptive and exploratory in nature. The study was conducted amongst the rural communities at Xigalo and Kurhuleni villages in the TB crisis municipality, Thulamela,in Vhembe District of Limpopo Province. The following themes emerged from the study: Theme 1: Participants knowledge about TB; Theme 2: The views of participants with regard to TB; Theme 3: Participants' perceptions of TB; Theme 4: The community's interaction with TB patients; Theme 5: Preferred methods of TB treatment as described by community members. Conclusion: People in the community still lack knowledge about TB as a disease. Its correlation with HIV/AIDS promotes the stigmatization of people suffering from TB, which results in people with TB avoiding the use of TB treatment because they fear disclosure and being perceived as being HIV positive.