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Knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to TB among the general population of Ethiopia : Findings from a national cross-sectional survey

Datiko, Daniel G ; Habte, Dereje ; Jerene, Degu LU and Suarez, Pedro (2019) In PLoS ONE 14(10).
Abstract

INTRODUCTION: Ethiopia is among the high-burden countries for tuberculosis (TB), TB/HIV, and drug-resistant TB. The aim of this nationwide study was to better understand TB-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) and generate evidence for policy and decision-making.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional TB KAP survey in seven regions and two city administrations of Ethiopia. Eighty kebeles (wards) and 40 health centers were randomly selected for the study. Using systematic sampling, 22 households and 11 TB patients were enrolled from each selected village and health center, respectively. Variables with a value of p = < 0.25 were included in the model for logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS: Of... (More)

INTRODUCTION: Ethiopia is among the high-burden countries for tuberculosis (TB), TB/HIV, and drug-resistant TB. The aim of this nationwide study was to better understand TB-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) and generate evidence for policy and decision-making.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional TB KAP survey in seven regions and two city administrations of Ethiopia. Eighty kebeles (wards) and 40 health centers were randomly selected for the study. Using systematic sampling, 22 households and 11 TB patients were enrolled from each selected village and health center, respectively. Variables with a value of p = < 0.25 were included in the model for logistic regression analysis.

RESULTS: Of 3,503 participants, 884 (24.4%), 836 (24.1%), and 1,783 (51.5%) were TB patients, families of TB patients, and the general population, respectively. The mean age was 34.3 years, and 50% were women. Forty-six percent were heads of households, 32.1% were illiterate, 20.3% were farmers, and 19.8% were from the lowest quintile. The majority (95.5%) had heard about TB, but only 25.8% knew that TB is caused by bacteria. Cough or sneezing was reported as the commonest means of TB transmission. The majority (85.3%) knew that TB could be cured. Men, better-educated people, and TB patients and their families have higher knowledge scores. Of 2,483 participants, 96% reported that they would go to public health facilities if they developed TB symptoms.

DISCUSSION: Most Ethiopians have a high level of awareness about TB and seek care in public health facilities, and communities are generally supportive. Inadequate knowledge about TB transmission, limited engagement of community health workers, and low preference for using community health workers were the key challenges.

CONCLUSIONS: Given misconceptions about TB's causes, low preference for use of community health workers, and inadequate engagement, targeted health education interventions are required to improve TB services.

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author
; ; and
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
keywords
Adult, Cross-Sectional Studies, Decision Making, Ethiopia/epidemiology, Female, Health Education, Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice, Health Policy, Humans, Male, Middle Aged, Rural Population, Sex Factors, Socioeconomic Factors, Tuberculosis/epidemiology, Young Adult
in
PLoS ONE
volume
14
issue
10
article number
e0224196
publisher
Public Library of Science (PLoS)
external identifiers
  • scopus:85074236944
  • pmid:31658300
ISSN
1932-6203
DOI
10.1371/journal.pone.0224196
language
English
LU publication?
no
id
db2cc731-31e8-4359-8c28-75c0ff1a1762
date added to LUP
2021-09-08 17:50:27
date last changed
2024-06-16 18:36:51
@article{db2cc731-31e8-4359-8c28-75c0ff1a1762,
  abstract     = {{<p>INTRODUCTION: Ethiopia is among the high-burden countries for tuberculosis (TB), TB/HIV, and drug-resistant TB. The aim of this nationwide study was to better understand TB-related knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAPs) and generate evidence for policy and decision-making.</p><p>MATERIALS AND METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional TB KAP survey in seven regions and two city administrations of Ethiopia. Eighty kebeles (wards) and 40 health centers were randomly selected for the study. Using systematic sampling, 22 households and 11 TB patients were enrolled from each selected village and health center, respectively. Variables with a value of p = &lt; 0.25 were included in the model for logistic regression analysis.</p><p>RESULTS: Of 3,503 participants, 884 (24.4%), 836 (24.1%), and 1,783 (51.5%) were TB patients, families of TB patients, and the general population, respectively. The mean age was 34.3 years, and 50% were women. Forty-six percent were heads of households, 32.1% were illiterate, 20.3% were farmers, and 19.8% were from the lowest quintile. The majority (95.5%) had heard about TB, but only 25.8% knew that TB is caused by bacteria. Cough or sneezing was reported as the commonest means of TB transmission. The majority (85.3%) knew that TB could be cured. Men, better-educated people, and TB patients and their families have higher knowledge scores. Of 2,483 participants, 96% reported that they would go to public health facilities if they developed TB symptoms.</p><p>DISCUSSION: Most Ethiopians have a high level of awareness about TB and seek care in public health facilities, and communities are generally supportive. Inadequate knowledge about TB transmission, limited engagement of community health workers, and low preference for using community health workers were the key challenges.</p><p>CONCLUSIONS: Given misconceptions about TB's causes, low preference for use of community health workers, and inadequate engagement, targeted health education interventions are required to improve TB services.</p>}},
  author       = {{Datiko, Daniel G and Habte, Dereje and Jerene, Degu and Suarez, Pedro}},
  issn         = {{1932-6203}},
  keywords     = {{Adult; Cross-Sectional Studies; Decision Making; Ethiopia/epidemiology; Female; Health Education; Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; Health Policy; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Rural Population; Sex Factors; Socioeconomic Factors; Tuberculosis/epidemiology; Young Adult}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{10}},
  publisher    = {{Public Library of Science (PLoS)}},
  series       = {{PLoS ONE}},
  title        = {{Knowledge, attitudes, and practices related to TB among the general population of Ethiopia : Findings from a national cross-sectional survey}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0224196}},
  doi          = {{10.1371/journal.pone.0224196}},
  volume       = {{14}},
  year         = {{2019}},
}