Knowledge, Attitudes, and Stigma

The Perceptions of Tuberculosis in Equatorial Guinea

Datos Bibliográficos

ID15479310
AutoresMarta Vericat-Ferrer (0000-0003-3599-4263, Universidad Autónoma de Madrid), Alba Ayala (0000-0001-8020-9020, Instituto de Salud Carlos III, autor de correspondencia), 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)
Año2022
Volumen19
Número14
Páginas8227-8227
Fecha de publicación2022-07-06
Peer ReviewedSí
Open AccessSí
TipoARTICLE
RevistaInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Identificadores de la revistaISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
EditorialMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph19148227
PMID35886079
OpenAlexW4283824516
IdiomaEN
Citas recibidas3
Referencias citadas30

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