Cross-sectional community-based assessment of knowledge, attitude and practices on tuberculosis in Osun State, South-west, Nigeria

Tuberculosis (TB) has continued to be a global public health issue, especially in developing countries, where Nigeria accounts for 4% of the global TB burden. However, to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals targets for 2030, there is a need for adequate and robust awareness campaigns to ensure that individuals in the communities are aware of the total TB program package. This study assessed the knowledge, attitudes and practices (KAP) towards TB of the residents of two communities affected by the TB scourge in Osun State, Nigeria. An interviewer-administered, semi-structured questionnaire adapted from the WHO-KAP study guide was employed, and the data generated were analysed using the SPSS statistical package. A total of 280 respondents participated in the study comprising 162 (57.9%) males and 118 (42.1%) females, a large percentage of the respondents (273/97.5%) know about TB and know that anybody can be infected (63.6%). However, in this study, we obtained the following KAP scores: overall good knowledge of TB: 60% (Iwo- 54.7% and Ikire-65.2%), overall good attitude towards TB: 50% (Iwo- 53.3% and Ikire- 46.7%) and overall good TB preventive practices 65.2% (Iwo- 66.6% and Ikire- 63.8%). Ikire respondents were significantly more knowledgeable than Iwo respondents (p =.002), while Iwo respondents had better TB attitudes than Ikire respondents (p =.03). Predictors of good KAP scores were accommodation type, education, age and main source of income of respondents. This study assessed the level of community TB-KAP and reinforced the need for a more robust awareness campaign for better TB health service utilisation.