Experienced and Perceived Risks of Mycobacterial Diseases: A Cross Sectional Study among Agropastoral Communities in Northern Tanzania

Abstract

ObjectiveThe current study was conducted to assess experienced risk factors and perceptions of mycobacterial diseases in communities in northern Tanzania.MethodsWe conducted a cross-sectional study in Arusha and Manyara regions in Northern Tanzania. We enrolled tuberculosis (TB) patients attending Mount Meru Hospital, Enduleni Hospital and Haydom Lutheran Hospitals in Arusha municipality, Ngorongoro and Mbulu districts, respectively. Patient addresses were recorded during their first visit to the hospitals. Patients with confirmed diagnosis of TB by sputum smear microscopy and/or culture at central laboratory were followed up and interviewed using pre-tested questionnaires, and selected relatives and neighbors were also interviewed. The study was conducted between June 2011 and May 2013.ResultsThe study involved 164 respondents: 41(25%) were TB patients, 68(41.5%) were their relatives and 55(33.5%) their neighbors. Sixty four (39%) knew a risk factor for mycobacterial disease. Overall, 64(39%) perceived to be at risk of mycobacterial diseases. Exposure to potential risks of mycobacterial diseases were: keeping livestock, not boiling drinking water, large family, smoking and sharing dwelling with TB patients. Rural dwellers were more often livestock keepers (p<0.01), more often shared dwelling with livestock (p<0.01) than urban dwellers. More primary school leavers reported sharing dwelling with TB patients than participants with secondary and higher education (p = 0.01).ConclusionLivestock keeping, sharing dwelling with livestock, sharing household with a TB patient were perceived risk factors for mycobacterial diseases and the participants were exposed to some of these risk factors. Improving knowledge about the risk factors may protect them from these serious diseases.

Exploring local knowledge and perceptions on zoonoses among pastoralists in northern and eastern Tanzania

“…There might be reasons to believe that Maasai pastoralists refused to accept diseases such as TB [especially human TB] because of the stigma it posed in some Maasai communities, where is sometimes associated with HIV/AIDS. A number of recent studies from similar groups and socio-ecological studies documented a gap in knowledge on the perceived causative agents of tuberculosis [ 48 , 49 , 61 ]. In their study about perceptions of tuberculosis among Maasai of Simanjiro, Haasnoot and colleagues [ 48 ] documented multiple reported causes of tuberculosis such as staying for long periods in strong sun, excessive exercise, smoking, promiscuity, breathing in dust and most reported that it was hereditary.…”

Perception and Risk Factors Associated with Tuberculosis in the Manyara Region, Tanzania

“…Consistent with the general lack of awareness of bTB, zoonotic TB (zTb) awareness was also very low in that 95.2% of participants had never heard of zoonotic TB and 95.8% had a poor understanding of zoonotic transmission (Table 2). The low awareness of the transmission of zoonotic TB in the pastoral society of Manyara, which has been reported by a number of previous studies is surprising but not unusual [11,27,28]. Lack of clear knowledge on zoonotic transmission risks society to poor handling of animals and animal products and highlights a need for campaigns with effective communication addressing human TB including risk of zoonotic transmission from livestock species.…”