Community Knowledge, Attitude and Practice towards Tuberculosis in Nakfa Subzone: Cross-Sectional Study, 2021
Author(s): Abiel Yehdego Kidanemariam, Betiel Yihdego Kidanemariam, Eyasu H. Tesfamariam, and Mengisteab Embaye Gulbetu.
Background: Since tuberculosis places its heaviest burden on the world’s poorest and vulnerable communities, acknowledging, managing and investing in the disease will result in substantial economic and health returns. There had been surge of TB in the Nakfa subzone, resulted from inappropriate knowledge of the disease’s causes, transmission modes and treatments which affected the attitude and hampered the Healthcareseeking behaviors. The aim of the study was to assess the communities’ knowledge, attitude and practices towards TB in the Nakfa sub zone.
Method: Community-based cross-sectional survey was conducted from March to June, 2021. A total of 665 respondents were selected by two stage cluster sampling from the 33 villages in the subzone. Data was collected by trained health professionals through face-to-face interview using structured questionnaire. Difference in knowledge score and attitude score was assessed using non-parametric tests while factors that affect appropriate practice were determined using multivariable logistic regression, through SPSS (Version 26).
Result: Even though 98% of the participants had ever heard about TB, only 20.2% answered bacteria/germs as the main cause of TB. Sneezing and cough (93.6%) and covering mouth and nose (92.7%) were predominantly responded as mechanism of transmission and prevention, respectively. The percentage of participants who considered TB as very series was 79.2%. Almost all (97.9%) of them responded that the first action that they do if symptom appeared is to go to health facility. Knowledge score was found to be significantly different across the categories of age and educational level, while practice score was different across educational level, occupation, number of people living in household. On the other hand, the predictors of appropriate practice at multivariable level were age, knowledge score and attitude score.
Conclusion: The Nakfa subzone community has good awareness towards TB however, knowledge gap on the mode of transmission as well as negative attitude such as fear and stigma were observed. Further enrichment of their knowledge and attitude; as well as devising a mechanism to translate their knowledge and attitude to appropriate practice should be formulated.