article · Discover Public Health
This study investigated the self-reported history of tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis, knowledge, and preventive practices among 1,669 adults across four regions in Ghana. Using a community-based cross-sectional survey, researchers found that nearly a quarter of respondents reported a lifetime history of TB, with most having low TB knowledge and poor prevention practices. Key findings indicated that males were less likely to engage in good prevention practices than females, while higher TB knowledge significantly improved these practices. Conversely, experiencing barriers such as cost, distance, and long waiting times substantially reduced the likelihood of good prevention behaviours. The study highlighted that education, sex, occupation, household size, access to information and services, and stigma were all linked to TB prevention practices.
This research is crucial for understanding the ongoing challenges in controlling tuberculosis in Ghana. By identifying specific gaps in knowledge and prevention, alongside the social and structural barriers faced by communities, it provides actionable insights for public health programmes. Addressing these factors can lead to more effective strategies to reduce TB transmission and improve health outcomes.
The abstract does not indicate a direct application pathway for commercialisation. The findings primarily point towards the need for public health interventions, policy changes, and improved service delivery by governmental or non-governmental organisations, rather than new products or services for commercial markets.
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Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health challenge and one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality worldwide. Despite ongoing control efforts, delayed diagnosis, poor treatment adherence, inadequate knowledge, and suboptimal preventive practices continue to hinder progress toward ending the TB epidemic, particularly in low- and middle-income countries such as Ghana. This study assessed the self-reported history of TB diagnosis, TB knowledge, preventive practices, and factors associated with TB prevention practices among adults in Ghana. A community-based cross-sectional survey involving 1,669 adults was conducted in four regions of Ghana using multi-stage sampling. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire administered through KoboCollect and analysed with Stata version 17. Descriptive statistics and multivariable logistic regression were conducted to identify factors associated with TB knowledge, and preventive practice of tuberculosis (TB). Overall, 24.1% of respondents reported a self-reported lifetime history of tuberculosis (TB), of whom approximately 70% reported laboratory confirmation, 74.9% of respondents classified as having low TB knowledge, while 62.6% of respondents exhibiting low TB prevention practices. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that male respondents were 24% less likely to exhibit good TB prevention practices than females (AOR = 0.76, 95% CI 0.61–0.95, p = 0.018). Respondents with high TB knowledge were 2.2 times more likely to exhibit good TB prevention practices than those with low TB knowledge (AOR = 2.20, 95% CI 1.43–3.72, p = 0.001). While those who experienced barriers such as cost, distance, and long waiting times were 88% less likely to report good TB prevention practices (AOR = 0.12, 95% CI 0.06–0.23, p = 0.013). This study revealed a high proportion of respondents reporting a previous TB diagnosis, low TB knowledge, and low TB preventive practices among adults in Ghana. Education, sex, occupation, household size, receipt of TB information, access to TB services, stigma, and TB knowledge were significantly associated with TB prevention practices. Social and structural barriers, including limited access to services, cost, distance, long waiting times, and stigma, were associated with poorer preventive behaviours. To achieve SDG 3.3 (end the epidemics of tuberculosis and other communicable diseases by 2030), the Ghana Health Service should increase health education programs, expand access to TB diagnostic and treatment services, improve preventive practices.
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DOI: 10.1186/s12982-026-02911-0
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