Knowledge, attitude and perceived stigma towards tuberculosis among pastoralists; Do they differ from sedentary communities? A comparative cross-sectional study

Abstract

BackgroundEthiopia is ninth among the world high tuberculosis (TB) burden countries, pastoralists being the most affected population. However, there is no published report whether the behavior related to TB are different between pastoralist and the sedentary communities. Therefore, the main aim of this study is to assess the pastoralist community knowledge, attitude and perceived stigma towards tuberculosis and their health care seeking behavior in comparison to the neighboring sedentary communities and this may help to plan TB control interventions specifically for the pastoralist communities.MethodA community-based cross-sectional survey was carried out from September 2014 to January 2015, among 337 individuals from pastoralist and 247 from the sedentary community of Kereyu district. Data were collected using structured questionnaires. Three focus group discussions were used to collect qualitative data, one with men and the other with women in the pastoralist and one with men in the sedentary groups. Data were analyzed using Statistical Software for Social Science, SPSS V 22 and STATA.ResultsA Lower proportion of pastoralists mentioned bacilli (bacteria) as the cause of PTB compared to the sedentary group (63.9% vs. 81.0%, p<0.01), respectively. However, witchcraft was reported as the causes of TB by a higher proportion of pastoralists than the sedentary group (53.6% vs.23.5%, p<0.01), respectively. Similarly, a lower proportion of pastoralists indicated PTB is preventable compared to the sedentary group (95.8% vs. 99.6%, p<0.01), respectively. Moreover, majority of the pastoralists mentioned that most people would reject a TB patient in their community compared to the sedentary group (39.9% vs. 8.9%, p<0.001), respectively, and the pastoralists expressed that they would be ashamed/embarrassed if they had TB 68% vs.36.4%, p<0.001), respectively.ConclusionThe finding indicates that there is a lower awareness about TB, a negative attitude towards TB patients and a higher perceived stigma among pastoralists compared to their neighbor sedentary population. Strategic health communications pertinent to the pastoralists way of life should be planned and implemented to improve the awareness gap about tuberculosis.

The role of mass media exposure on Tuberculosis knowledge and attitude among migrant and seasonal farmworkers in Northwest Ethiopia

“…This could be because of good knowledge in uence attitude formation (30). Furthermore, it was supported by a study from Ethiopia among pastoralist communities which showed lower awareness as risk factors for unfavorable attitudes (34). This could be mainly due to perceiving a higher stigma on TB patients among pastoralists with poor awareness.…”

The role of mass media exposure on tuberculosis knowledge and attitude among migrant and seasonal farmworkers in Northwest Ethiopia

“…This could be because of good knowledge influence attitude formation [30]. Furthermore, it was supported by a study from Ethiopia among pastoralist communities which showed lower awareness as risk factors for unfavorable attitudes [34]. This could be mainly due to perceiving a higher stigma on TB patients among pastoralists with poor awareness.…”

Knowledge on pulmonary tuberculosis among Dalit community of Bharatpokhari VDC of Kaski district, Nepal

“…5 And this study is also consistent with the study among, pastoralist community, community of Gambella region and Somali community, where participants had higher knowledge gap about tuberculosis. [7][8][9] But, our study contrast with the study among pastoral communities, Ethopia. 10 and study among population of Mamandur in Tami where majority of the participants had adequate knowledge on pulmonary tuberculosis.…”