Knowledge, attitudes and practices of communities towards neurocysticercosis in the districts of Amuru and Gulu, Northern Uganda
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Date
6/4/2020
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Journal of Parasitology and Vector Biology
Abstract
Neurocysticercosis (NCC) is the hematogenous inversion of brain by the larval stage of pork tapeworm,
Taenia solium. The aim of the study was to investigate the knowledge, attitudes and practices among
communities in two districts of Northern Uganda. A community based cross sectional study was
conducted between February to March 2019 in two Sub-Counties of Amuru and Gulu districts. Multistage
sampling and lottery methods were used to select the study sites and the respondents,
respectively. Data was collected from 296 participants. Bivariate and multivariate analyses were used
to detect the independent factors associated with dependent variables. Variables with P< 0.05 were
considered as statistically significant. Fifty six percent (56%) of the participant had moderate
knowledge about NCC. Respondents with satisfactory level of attitude and practices were 52.3 and
51%, respectively. Sixty percent (60%) of the respondents eat pork. Majority (94.3%) of the respondents
always wash their hands after visiting toilets. Sixty seven percent (67%) of the respondents agreed that
epileptic patients should marry but seventy (70%) reported that they should not go to school. Majority
(80%) of the respondents reported that NCC patients should be taken to hospital for medical care.
Multivariate logistic regression model revealed sex (P=0.017, OR=1.27(95%CI: 1.04-1.54), level of
education (P=0.006, OR= 4.451(95%CI: 1.49-12.20) and occupation (P=0.03, OR=3.843(95%CI: 1.13-12.71)
were more significantly associated with knowledge on NCC. Sex (P = 0.013, OR= 1.88 (95%CI: 1.14-
3.10), level of education (P= 0.031, OR= 5.43(95%CI: 1.17-25.20) was significantly associated with
positive attitudes towards patients with NCC. Male exhibited better practices towards patients with NCC
(P<0.05). The findings indicate that there is a limited knowledge on NCC among the rural communities
in the district of Amuru and Gulu, Northern Uganda. In addition, the findings show that the communities
practice risky behaviors that promote development of NCC in the region. The intervention of health
authorities in this area is required for the prevention and/or control NCC in the region.
Description
Keywords
Communities,, knowledge,, attitude,, practices,, neuorcysticercosis,, Northern Uganda.