The group process in school-age children for tuberculosis prevention behaviour

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) attacks various ages, including school-age children. TB in children can make them lose more time in school and their growth and development are disrupted. Hence it is important to prevent TB in school-age children.

Objectives: This research assesses the effect of group process on behaviour, knowledge, attitudes, and skills prevention of TB in school-age children. 

Method: This study used a quasi-experimental design, pre-post-test with a control group. It used multistage sampling, involving 63 children in the intervention group and 64 in the control group.

Results: In the intervention group, most children were 10 years old, male, with no family history of TB. Parental educational level was mainly junior high school and parental income level ≥ Regional minimum wage. In the control group, most children were 11 years old, male, with no family history of TB. Parental educational level was mainly elementary school and parental income level ≥ Regional minimum wage. There was a statistically significant effect of group process on behaviour, knowledge, attitudes and skills prevention of TB in school-age children (p<0.05).

Conclusions: Group process affected behaviour, knowledge, attitudes and prevention skills of TB in school-age children significantly.

Sri Lanka Journal of Child Health, 2020; 49(3): 235-239