Knowledge, attitudes and practices on childhood TB among healthcare workers

BACKGROUND: Increasing childhood TB case detection requires the deployment of diagnostic services at peripheral healthcare level. Capacity and readiness of healthcare workers (HCWs) are key to the delivery of innovative approaches. METHODS: In 2019, HCWs from five district hospitals (DHs) and 20 primary healthcare centres (PHCs) in Cambodia, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire, Sierra Leone and Uganda completed a self-administered knowledge -attitudes-practices (KAP) questionnaire on childhood TB. We computed knowledge and attitudes as scores and identified HCW characteristics associated with knowledge scores using linear regression. RESULT: Of 636 eligible HCWs, 497 (78%) participated. Median knowledge scores per country ranged between 7.4 and 12.1 (/18). Median attitude scores ranged between 2.8 and 3.3 (/4). Between 13.3% and 34.4% of HCWs reported diagnosing childhood with (presumptive) TB few times a week. Practising at PHC level, being female, being involved in indirect TB care, having a non-permanent position, having no previous research experience and working in Cambodia, Cameroon, Cote d'Ivoire and Sierra Leone as compared to Uganda were associated with a lower knowledge score. CONCLUSION: HCWs had overall limited knowledge, favourable attitudes and little practice of childhood TB diagnosis. Increasing HCW awareness, capacity and skills, and improving access to effective diagnosis are urgently needed.