Ijeoma, E.Fana, Thanduxolo Elford2026-09-142026-09-142017Fana,T.E.Assessment of knowledge and awareness levels, attidudes and practices of Port Elizabeth community members on drug resistant tuberculosis.Alice.University of Fort Hare.http://hdl.handle.net/20.500.11837/5116PhD ThesesThe aim of this study was to assess community members' knowledge and awareness levels, attitudes and practices of Drug Resistant Tuberculosis. The Health Belief Model, Social Cognitive Theory and the Socio Ecological Model were used as the theoretical foundations for this study. This study was conducted at Port Elizabeth in Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality using a quantitative research method. The sample size consisted of four hundred (400) respondents aged above 18 years who were purposively and conveniently selected from Port Elizabeth area in the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality. Data was collected using close ended questions which were administered by the researcher and two research assistants to the selected respondents. Data was analysed using bivariate, multivariate and descriptive statistics. The results of this study illustrate that the Port Elizabeth community members had poor knowledge and awareness levels, unfavourable attitudes and good practices of Drug Resistant Tuberculosis. Secondly, the results also indicate that males and youth had good knowledge and awareness levels, positive attitudes and good prevention practices of Drug Resistant Tuberculosis compared to female and adult respondents. The findings also showed statistically significant association between age and knowledge, attitudes and practices. There was a strong relationship between gender and attitudes while there was no relationship between gender and knowledge as well as gender and practice. The study also revealed low literacy levels, low self-efficacy belief, inadequate information and erroneous beliefs and misconceptions about Drug Resistant Tuberculosis among the respondents. The study also revealed that a dual health system existed and was in use within the study area. The study also showed that Drug Resistant Tuberculosis was a highly stigmatised disease and that acted as a barrier to adoption of positive health behaviour. The knowledge gap among the research respondents was mainly attributed to structural barriers such as high unemployment rate, illiteracy levels, poverty, discriminatory and stigmatising health care workers or staff and community attitudes and practices. It is recommended that health education campaigns need to be intensified so that the correct information is disseminated to the people and misconceptions and stigma that exist in society is addressed.enMultidrug-resistant tuberculosis -- South Africa -- Eastern CapeHealth Belief ModelCommunity health services -- South Africa -- Eastern CapeCommunication in Public Health -- South Africa -- Eastern CapePublic health -- South Africa -- Eastern CapeTuberculosis -- South Africa -- Eastern CapeThesis