Abstract:
Background: Considering the high worldwide prevalence of tuberculosis and the increasing
burden of COVID-19, the co-infection seems more likely to be a coincidental occurrence rather
than a causal association.
Objective: Applying the health belief model (HBM), this study assessed the adherence to COVID-19
preventive practices among patients with tuberculosis in public health facilities in Jimma town, southwest
Ethiopia, in 2022.
Methods and Materials: A facility-based cross-sectional study design was conducted at Jimma town
public health facilities from November 20/2021 to December 20, 2021.A complete census of all the
eligible participants 221 TB patients were included. The data was collected using the Adherence tool
towards COVID-19 preventive practice tools through face-to-face interviews. Categorical and
continuous data were described using descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, frequencies, and
percentages). Multiple linear regression analysis with a significance level at a p-value of ≤ 0.05 was used
to interpret associations.
Results: A total of 216 participants completed the study which gives a 97.7% of response rate. The mean
score of adherences of corona virus was 37.52 +11.36, stigmatized 47.5 + 11.87, susceptible 37.68+5.67,
the perceived severity was 39.2 +3.64 and the perceived barrier was 70.53 + 9.34 the perceived benefits
19.47 + 3.2 perceived self-efficacy for TB patients was 11.57 + 3.37 and the TB patients' cues of action
were 11.7 + 3.22 for COVID-19 preventive practice. When education is increased by one level (diploma
and bachelor's degrees, respectively), adherence with COVID-19 preventive measures improves by 4.441
and 4.547 factors (B=4.441, 95% CI=0.613, 8.269, P0.023; and (B=4.547, 95% CI=0.331, 8.763,
P0.035). The preventive practice increased self-efficacy by 0.875 factors (B=0.875, 95% CI= 0.321,
1.428, P0.002), and decreased by -0.323 factors for perceived barriers (B= -0.323, 95% CI=-0.530, -
.116, P<0.002). Farmers' adherence to the prevention practice decreased by -4.915 factors (B=-4.915,
95% CI=-8.607, -1.224, P0.009), health workers' information increased adherence to the prevention
practice by 4.348 factors (B=-4.348, 95% CI: 1.85, 6.84, P<0.001).
Conclusion and recommendation: Having a diploma, a Bachelor's degree, information from health
workers, and perceived self-efficacy were positively associated, however, being a farmer and perceived
barriers were negatively associated with adherence to COVID-19 prevention practice. The health
facilities should inform the patients of the mode of transmission and prevention of both TB and corona
virus.
