Abstract
Background Pakistan is a country with one of the highest burden of tuberculosis (TB) in the world, and therefore, it is imperative to revisit the design of behaviour change interventions in the program. This study was designed to understand and assess the knowledge, awareness, perceptions, and health-seeking behaviour of general and specifically TB-affected population and to determine the presence and level of stigma and discrimination toward TB patients. Methods A mixed-method study was conducted in district Haripur of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, comprising a household survey, whereby 526 individuals were interviewed, and five focus group discussions with various subgroups including TB patients and health workers and authorities. Study sought an ethical approval, and data of all respondents was kept confidential. Results Quantitative results show that women were more knowledgeable on symptomatology and spread of TB, and with rising education, awareness on TB improves. The majority of our respondents had the understanding that it is a curable disease, yet some would avoid TB patients. Most of the respondents (both men and women) knew that one must go to a government facility for treatment. Only one-third would speak to doctor first, if they suspect TB-like symptoms. Television was a popular source of information on TB. Qualitative results captured people's perceptions that TB was related with poverty and was still considered a stigma in the community; hence, patients afflicted feared disclosing the disease. Conclusion With contextual understanding of communities' knowledge, attitudes, health-seeking behaviour, and care-seeking patterns, it can be concluded that there is a need to increase the awareness about TB symptoms, mode of transmission, prevention, diagnosis and treatment, and destigmatization of the disease through health education.
Highlights
Tuberculosis is a disease caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis
Pakistan is ranked 5th among 22 countries with the highest burden of tuberculosis (TB) and 27 high multidrug resistant (MDR) TB countries of the world, and it contributes about 60% of the total TB burden in the Eastern Mediterranean Region
Communication and Social Mobilization (ACSM) activities address the key barriers to accessing TB care and completing treatment [6]
Summary
Tuberculosis is a disease caused by bacteria called Mycobacterium tuberculosis. The bacteria usually attack the lungs, but they can damage other parts of the body. Our study endeavoured to BioMed Research International determine the current knowledge and awareness of people of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province regarding TB, its treatment and prevention. It examined the current health-seeking practices in a predominantly rural setting where sociocultural and demographic factors are different than the urban setting of the same province. This study was designed to understand and assess the knowledge, awareness, perceptions, and health-seeking behaviour of general and TB-affected population and to determine the presence and level of stigma and discrimination toward TB patients. With contextual understanding of communities’ knowledge, attitudes, health-seeking behaviour, and care-seeking patterns, it can be concluded that there is a need to increase the awareness about TB symptoms, mode of transmission, prevention, diagnosis and treatment, and destigmatization of the disease through health education
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