Tuberculosis - related knowledge, behaviors, stigmatizing attitude and discrimination among refugees, migrants, and general population in Jordan (Preprint)

Abstract

A better understanding of knowledge, attitude, practices (KAP) in the community and other issues related to tuberculosis (TB) can help in implementing evidence-driven activities to control TB in Jordan. This study aimed to assess TB- related knowledge, attitude, and behaviors among refugees, migrants, and general population, as well as assess their stigmatizing and discrimination attitudes toward TB patients, their social behavior towards TB, and their healthcare seeking behaviors.

-

A cross-sectional study was conducted among Jordanians, Syrian refugees (both urban and camp refugees), and migrants living in four governorates including Amman, Zarqa, Mafraq, and Irbid during the study period June-September 2021. A structured questionnaire was developed and used to collect the data via face-to-face interviews.

A total of 2302 (27.7% Jordanians, 25.7% urban refugees, 22.1% camp refugees, and 24.5% migrants) participated in this study. Out of the total, 90.1% of participants reported that the have heard of TB. However, 88.9% of Jordanians, 92.8% of urban refugees, 92% of camp refugees, and 90.5% of migrants had low level of TB-related knowledge. About 62.0% of urban refugees, 54.8% of Jordanians, 43.0% of camp refugees and 55.4% of migrants had moderate to high stigmatizing attitude toward TB patients. About 15.1% of Jordanians, 10.6% of urban refugees, 23.7% of camp refugees, and 16.1% of migrants had moderate to high level of discriminating attitude towards patients with TB. Camp refugees had significantly higher level of discriminating attitude towards TB patients than the other groups.

Jordanians, refugees, and migrants in Jordan had significant gaps in TB-related knowledge. Moderate to high level of stigmatizing attitude was reported by a considerable proportion of the study participants. This suggests a need for public health education programs to educate people on TB causes, signs and symptoms, mode of transmission and address TB-related stigma, especially among the most disadvantaged and affected communities in Jordan.