Knowledge, Attitudes, and Stigma

The Perceptions of Tuberculosis in Equatorial Guinea

Bibliographic Data

ID15479310
AuthorsMarta Vericat-Ferrer (0000-0003-3599-4263, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid), Alba Ayala (0000-0001-8020-9020, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, corresponding author), Policarpo Ncogo (Fundación Estatal, Salud, Infancia y Bienestar Social, F.S.P.), Juan Eyene-Acuresila (National University of Equatorial Guinea), Belén García (0000-0001-6317-6984, Fundación Estatal, Salud, Infancia y Bienestar Social, F.S.P.), Agustín Benito (0000-0001-8229-5540, Instituto de Salud Carlos III), María Romay‐Barja (0000-0002-0177-6885, Instituto de Salud Carlos III)
Year2022
Volume19
Issue14
Pages8227-8227
Publication date2022-07-06
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph19148227
PMID35886079
OpenAlexW4283824516
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited30

Tuberculosis remains one of the major causes of morbidity and mortality in Equatorial Guinea, with an estimated incidence of 280 per 100,000 inhabitants, an estimated mortality rate of 96 per 100,000 inhabitants, and a treatment non-adherence rate of 21.4%. This study aimed to identify the factors associated to TB-related knowledge, attitudes, and stigma in order to design community intervention strategies that could improve TB diagnostic and treatment adherence in Equatorial Guinea. A nationwide cross-sectional survey of 770 household caregivers was conducted in Equatorial Guinea about TB knowledge, attitudes, and practices. Knowledge, attitude, and stigma scores were calculated through correct answers and the median was used as cut-off. Associated factors were analyzed calculating prevalence ratio (PR) and a 95% confidence interval (95% CI) through Poisson regression with robust variance. The percentage of women was 53.0% and median age was 46 years (IQR: 33-60). The percentage of caregivers with high TB related knowledge was 34.9%, with a bad attitude (52.5%) and low stigma (40.4%). A greater probability of having good knowledge was observed in those 45 years old or less (PR: 1.3, 95% CI: 1.1-1.6), those with higher education level (PR: 1.4, 95% CI: 1.1-1.8) and higher wealth (PR: 1.4, 95% CI: 1.0-2.0), while sex (PR = 0.8, 95% CI: 0.6-0.9), religion (PR = 1.4, 95% CI: 1.0-1.8), and good knowledge (PR = 1.4, 95% CI: 1.2-1.7) were associated with good attitudes. Wage employment (PR = 95% CI: 1.2-1.4), feeling well informed (PR = 0.7, 95% CI: 0.6-0.8), having good TB knowledge (PR = 1.3, 95% CI: 1.1-1.7), and some sources of information were associated with having lower TB-related stigma. This study found that a high percentage of caregivers in Equatorial Guinea lack important knowledge about TB disease and have bad attitudes and high TB-related stigma. Given the epidemiological situation of TB in the country, it is urgent to improve TB knowledge and awareness among Equatorial Guinea's general population

Confidence interval · Environmental health · Incidence (geometry · Poisson regression · Population · Psychiatry · Rate ratio · Stigma (botany · Tuberculosis · Demography · Medicine · Parasites and Host Interactions · Pneumonia and Respiratory Infections · Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology · Internal Medicine