title: Community knowledge, attitudes and practices in relation to tuberculosis in Cameroon.
abstract: With 15 080 new cases in 2013, Cameroon is a country with high tuberculosis (TB) incidence and prevalence. Understanding the community's knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) about TB is key to TB control in such endemic settings.
  
  
  
  To assess TB-related KAP in Cameroon by describing the sociodemographics of respondents, to identify barriers to seeking care and to explore attitudes and experiences of stigma and discrimination related to TB in communities.
  
  
  
  We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study using structured questionnaires to assess and compare TB KAP in the entire territory.
  
  
  
  The results showed that Cameroonians have insufficient understanding of TB, numerous erroneous health assumptions and beliefs concerning TB, and erroneous information about the symptoms and mode of transmission of the disease.
  
  
  
  Negative attitudes and poor practices are obstacles to elimination and control efforts. The National Tuberculosis Control Programme should generate more effective strategies to reach the populations, paying particular attention to rural populations.
authors: Faculty of Medicine and Biomedical Sciences, University of Yaoundé I, Yaoundé, Cameroon; Capacity for Leadership Excellence And Research, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors: S
authors: S
authors: Kwedi Nolna
authors: Centre International de Référence « Chantal Biya » pour la Recherche sur la Prévention et la Prise en Charge du VIH/SIDA, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors: I D
authors: ID
authors: Kammogne
authors: Ecole Nationale Supérieure Polytechnique de Yaoundé, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Ndzinga
authors: Ecole Nationale Supérieure Polytechnique de Yaoundé, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors: B
authors: B
authors: Afanda
authors: Capacity for Leadership Excellence And Research, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Ntonè
authors: Epicentre, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors: Y
authors: Y
authors: Boum
authors: Expanded Programme on Immunisation, Ministry of Health, Yaoundé, Cameroon National Tuberculosis Control Programme, Yaoundé, Cameroon.
authors: D
authors: D
authors: Nolna
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002163:Cameroon / Q000453:epidemiology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004522:Educational Status; D005260:Female; D007722:Health Knowledge, Attitudes, Practice; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D008297:Male; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population; D057545:Social Stigma; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000453:epidemiology*; D055815:Young Adult