Knowledge, Attitude and Practice towards Tuberculosis and its Treatment in Qassim Region, Saudi Arabia: A Cross-sectional Study

Abstract

Purpose: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health concern worldwide and is considered one of the leading causes of death globally. Presently, TB control remains a global struggle, despite a decline in the percentage of cases. In Saudi Arabia, the annual incidence rate of TB is 12 per 100,000 individuals. Although TB incidence has decreased in the country, it has not been fully controlled. Awareness and public education are important in preventing the spread of TB. The objective of this study is to evaluate the knowledge, attitudes, and practices (KAP) regarding TB and its treatment within the community, while also examining potential gender differences in KAP. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was carried out online among the general population in the Qassim Region of Saudi Arabia, and statistical analysis was performed using multivariate logistic regression, chi-square, and t-tests. Results: A total of 450 participants were included in the study; 71.6% of respondents were males, and most of the respondents (71.3%) had a high level of education. Slightly more than half (55.3%) of the respondents have a good level of knowledge. The total percentage of people who have positive attitudes is 46.7%. Within gender, analysis shows that about 48.4% of males and 42.2% of females have a positive attitude. The total percentage of people who have a good practice is 82.4%. Within gender, analysis shows that females (91.4%) have a good practice compared to males (78.9%). The multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that having a family history of TB was independently associated with a higher level of knowledge, whereas younger age was associated with a positive attitude. On the other hand, gender and education were independently associated with the practice. Conclusion: The knowledge and attitude towards TB among the targeted population were generally moderate, with slightly higher levels of knowledge observed among females. Furthermore, a positive trend of good practices was observed within the study population, particularly among females