Knowledge, attitudes and practices of communities towards neurocysticercosis in the districts of Amuru and Gulu, Northern Uganda

Abstract

Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is the hematogenous inversion of brain by the larval stage of pork tapeworm, Taenia solium. The aim of the study was to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and practices among communities in two districts of Northern Uganda. A community based cross sectional study was conducted between February to March 2019 in two Sub-Counties of Amuru and Gulu districts. Multi-stage sampling and lottery methods were used to select the study sites and the respondents, respectively. Data was collected from 296 participants. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used to detect the independent factors associated with dependent variables. Variables with P< 0.05 were considered as statistically significant. Fifty six percent (56%) of the participant had moderate knowledge about NCC. Respondents with satisfactory level of attitude and practices were 52.3 and 51%, respectively. Sixty percent (60%) of the respondents eat pork. Majority (94.3%) of the respondents always wash their hands after visiting toilets. Sixty seven percent (67%) of the respondents agreed that epileptic patients should marry but seventy (70%) reported that they should not go to school. Majority (80%) of the respondents reported that NCC patients should be taken to hospital for medical care. Multivariate logistic regression model revealed sex (P=0.017, OR=1.27(95%CI: 1.04-1.54), level of education (P=0.006, OR= 4.451(95%CI: 1.49-12.20) and occupation (P=0.03, OR=3.843(95%CI: 1.13-12.71) were more significantly associated with knowledge on NCC. Sex (P = 0.013, OR= 1.88 (95%CI: 1.14-3.10), level of education (P= 0.031, OR= 5.43(95%CI: 1.17-25.20) was significantly associated with positive attitudes towards patients with NCC. Male exhibited better practices towards patients with NCC (P<0.05). The findings indicate that there is a limited knowledge on NCC among the rural communities in the district of Amuru and Gulu, Northern Uganda. In addition, the findings show that the communities practice risky behaviors that promote development of NCC in the region. The intervention of health authorities in this area is required for the prevention and/or control NCC in the region. Key words: Communities, knowledge, attitude, practices, neuorcysticercosis, Northern Uganda.