COVID-19 knowledge, attitude, and practice in combating TB and COVID-19 in Cameroon.

Abstract

Background: COVID-19 and tuberculosis (TB) were the top two leading causes of death from a single infectious agent in 2022.

Aim: This study aimed at assessing COVID-19 knowledge, attitude, and practices (KAP) and their associated factors among pulmonary TB patients and healthy individuals in Yaoundé, Cameroon.

Setting: The study was conducted at the Jamot Hospital in Yaoundé, a main referral hospital for TB management in Cameroon.

Methods: A cross-sectional design was used to recruit a consecutive sample of TB patients and healthy participants at Jamot Hospital and communities in Yaoundé, Cameroon, from April 2022 to March 2023. Data on socio-demographic characteristics and COVID-19 KAP were collected and analysed using logistic regression with significance considered at p < 0.05.

Results: Out of 409 participants, 67.5% had good knowledge, 54% had a favourable attitude, and 22.5% had good practices towards COVID-19. Multivariate analysis identified TB status, age, sex, and marital status as significant factors influencing KAP scores. Good knowledge and good practices were associated with being healthy, young, and single (p < 0.05). In addition, the female gender, good knowledge, and favourable attitudes were associated with good practices (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: Gaps in COVID-19 KAP among TB patients highlight the need for targeted public health interventions, with a focus on TB patients, males, the elderly, and married individuals for better control.

Contribution: Tuberculosis patients are not adopting positive prevention practices as required, thus increasing their risk of getting COVID-19 and transmitting TB, necessitating urgent action.