Investigating the role of nutrition in TB management: Association between nutritional status and nutrition related knowledge, attitudes, and practices among people receiving TB treatment in eThekwini District
1
Familty Medicine, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
2
Public Health, The Aurum Institute, Johannesburg, South Africa
3
School of Health Systems and Public Health, University of Pretoria, Pretoria, South Africa
4
Microbiology, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
Popul. Med. 2026;8(Supplement Supplement 1):
ABSTRACT
INTRODUCTION:
Poor nutritional status is associated with increased risk of developing TB and worsening treatment outcomes. Understanding the relationship between nutritional status and nutrition-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) is essential to design interventions improving health outcomes in people receiving TB treatment.
OBJECTIVE:
To assess the association between nutritional status and nutrition-related KAPs among people receiving TB treatment in the eThekwini District
METHODS:
A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 385 adults receiving TB treatment. Nutritional status was assessed via anthropometric measurement using the World Health Organization’s (WHO) formula for body mass index (BMI), while nutrition-related KAP was assessed using a semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Pearson’s chi-square test and logistic regression models were used to assess associations between nutritional status and several predictors.
RESULTS:
The study found that 67.0% of participants had a normal nutritional status, while 16.6% were underweight and 16.4% were overweight or obese. There was low (66.5%) nutrition-related knowledge among participants. Also, 53.2% had poor attitudes towards nutrition, while only 11.2% reported poor nutritional practices. There was significant association between poor nutritional practices and nutritional status (p = 0.034). After adjusting for socio-demographic and lifestyle factors, low nutrition-related knowledge was significantly associated with lower odds of having a normal nutritional status (p = 0.040).
CONCLUSIONS:
Low nutrition-related knowledge and poor attitudes were common, and poor nutritional practices were linked to malnutrition. These findings highlight the critical role of nutrition in TB management. We recommend strengthening of nutrition education and counselling in routine TB care.
Poor nutritional status is associated with increased risk of developing TB and worsening treatment outcomes. Understanding the relationship between nutritional status and nutrition-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) is essential to design interventions improving health outcomes in people receiving TB treatment.
OBJECTIVE:
To assess the association between nutritional status and nutrition-related KAPs among people receiving TB treatment in the eThekwini District
METHODS:
A facility-based cross-sectional study was conducted among 385 adults receiving TB treatment. Nutritional status was assessed via anthropometric measurement using the World Health Organization’s (WHO) formula for body mass index (BMI), while nutrition-related KAP was assessed using a semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire. Pearson’s chi-square test and logistic regression models were used to assess associations between nutritional status and several predictors.
RESULTS:
The study found that 67.0% of participants had a normal nutritional status, while 16.6% were underweight and 16.4% were overweight or obese. There was low (66.5%) nutrition-related knowledge among participants. Also, 53.2% had poor attitudes towards nutrition, while only 11.2% reported poor nutritional practices. There was significant association between poor nutritional practices and nutritional status (p = 0.034). After adjusting for socio-demographic and lifestyle factors, low nutrition-related knowledge was significantly associated with lower odds of having a normal nutritional status (p = 0.040).
CONCLUSIONS:
Low nutrition-related knowledge and poor attitudes were common, and poor nutritional practices were linked to malnutrition. These findings highlight the critical role of nutrition in TB management. We recommend strengthening of nutrition education and counselling in routine TB care.
| eISSN: | 2654-1459 |
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