Effect of Life Skills Education on Preventing Household Tuberculosis Transmission in North Sumatra

Amirah, A.; Suharto, T.; Nur’aini, N.; Ekowati, N.; Desy, R.J.; Sembiring, K.D.B.; Syam, A.; Malik, M.

doi:10.58209/hehp.14.1.107

Effect of Life Skills Education on Preventing Household Tuberculosis Transmission in North Sumatra

Document Type : Original Article

Authors

A. Amirah ¹

T. Suharto ¹

N. Nur’aini ¹

N. Ekowati ¹

R.J. Desy ²

K.D.B. Sembiring ³

A. Syam ⁴

M. Malik ⁵

¹ Department of Public Health, Faculty of Public Health, Helvetia Health University, Medan, Indonesia

² Department of Public Health, Namu Ukur Health Center, Langkat, Indonesia

³ Department of Public Health, Sukaramai Community Health Center, PakPak Bharat, Indonesia

⁴ Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health, Mega Buana University, Palopo, Indonesia

⁵ Department of Midwifery, Faculty of Midwifery Professional Education, Gunung Sari University, Makassar, Indonesia

10.58209/hehp.14.1.107

Abstract

Aims: Pulmonary tuberculosis disproportionately affects the productive age group and has a tendency to spread to household contacts, especially vulnerable populations like children from low socioeconomic backgrounds. This study aimed to develop a life skills education model for tuberculosis patients, employing an effective life skills education strategy to prevent tuberculosis transmission, particularly among household contacts.
Materials & Methods: This quantitative quasi-experimental study used a two-group pre-test and post-test design. The study population comprised all tuberculosis patients in the North Sumatra region. The sample included 127 patients from urban areas and 126 patients from rural areas assigned to the intervention and control groups. The non-parametric Friedman test was used to examine changes in knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding the prevention of tuberculosis transmission among household contacts. Concurrently, the Mann-Whitney test was applied to compare scores between the groups.
Findings: Post-intervention analysis revealed significant changes in attitudes for both urban and rural groups (p=0.0001), with no significant difference in the magnitude of these changes between the two areas (p>0.05). While practice scores improved significantly following the intervention (p<0.05), no significant difference in changes in practice scores was found between rural and urban areas when comparing the first and third tests (p>0.05).
Conclusion: Health education delivered via the lecture method, incorporating the life skills education module, effectively improves knowledge, attitudes, and actions in both urban and rural settings.

Keywords

Interpersonal Skills

Pulmonary Tuberculosis

Household Contacts

Subjects

Health Education and Health Behavior

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