Community Knowledge, Attitudes and Perceptions Regarding Buruli Ulcer in Bafia Health District, Centre Region-Cameroon
Earnest Njih Tabah *
National Yaws, Leishmaniasis, Leprosy and Buruli ulcer Control Programme, Ministry of Public Health, Yaounde, Cameroon, Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, West Region, Cameroon and Research Initiative in Tropical and Community Health (RITCH), Yaounde, Cameroon.
Djam Chefor Alain
Department of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Dschang, West Region, Cameroon and Research Initiative in Tropical and Community Health (RITCH), Yaounde, Cameroon.
Irine Ngani Njih
National Yaws, Leishmaniasis, Leprosy and Buruli ulcer Control Programme, Ministry of Public Health, Yaounde, Cameroon and Research Initiative in Tropical and Community Health (RITCH), Yaounde, Cameroon.
Loic Douanla Pagning
National Yaws, Leishmaniasis, Leprosy and Buruli ulcer Control Programme, Ministry of Public Health, Yaounde, Cameroon.
Colin Tsago Nzoyem
National Yaws, Leishmaniasis, Leprosy and Buruli ulcer Control Programme, Ministry of Public Health, Yaounde, Cameroon.
Elisabeth` Baran-A-Bidias
National Yaws, Leishmaniasis, Leprosy and Buruli ulcer Control Programme, Ministry of Public Health, Yaounde, Cameroon.
Christian Kouayep-Watat
National Yaws, Leishmaniasis, Leprosy and Buruli ulcer Control Programme, Ministry of Public Health, Yaounde, Cameroon and Research Initiative in Tropical and Community Health (RITCH), Yaounde, Cameroon.
Franck Eric Wanda
FAIRMED – Cameroon, P.O. BOX 5807 Yaounde, Cameroon.
Larraitz Ventoso
Department of International Cooperation, ANESVAD Foundation, Henao, 29-31 (Oficinas) 1º Planta 48009 BILBAO, Spain.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
Aim: Buruli ulcer (BU), a neglected tropical disease, occurs in about thirty-three countries world-wide. Misconceptions about BU leads to poor health-seeking behaviors. We explored community knowledge, perceptions and attitudes regarding BU in a new endemic district.
Study Design: It was a cross-sectional community-based survey.
Place and Duration of Study: Bafia Health District (BHD), Centre region of Cameroon, in between November 2023 and February 2024.
Methodology: We recruited 1341 participants through a three-stage cluster sampling design. A structured questionnaire was administered to 2 or 3 members aged 10-87 years of each household visited. Descriptive statistics were performed, chi-square tests used to assess associations, and forward stepwise binary logistic regression models used to identify independently associated factors of attitudes.
Results: Of 1341 participants, 30.1% had heard of and 21.1% knew someone with BU. Only 17.2% correctly identified BU lesions, 2.3% knew its cause, and 19.2% believed BU was curable. Regarding attitudes towards persons with BU (PWBU) only 27.4% would show them respect, 19,5% would shake hands, and 16.4% would share the same plate with them. Additionally, only 17.3% approved of their participation, and 14.1% and 12.2% respectively would allow their child to play with or marry a PWBU. Positive attitudes towards PWBU were significantly associated with: head about BU, knowing a PWBU, and understanding that BU is curable. Negative attitudes were significantly associated with beliefs that: BU is caused by supernatural forces, poor hygiene, or living with a PWBU.
Conclusion: There were poor community knowledge and negative perceptions about BU in the BHD, which negatively influenced community attitudes towards PWBU. A community education intervention focusing on the natural occurrence, biological etiology, non-hereditary nature, the non-human-to-human transmission, and the curable nature of BU could improve upon the situation in BHD.
Keywords: Knowledge, perceptions, attitude, Buruli Ulcer, Bafia Health District