@article{33778,
  keywords = {Etnicity, Knowledge, Mycobacterium ulcerans disease, Perceptions, Practices, Stigma},
  author = {Nwafor CC and Meka A and Chukwu JN and Ekeke N and Alphonsus C and Mbah O and Madichie NO and Aduh U and Ogbeifo M and IseOluwa-Adelokiki BO and Edochie JE and Ushaka J and Ukwaja K},
  title = {Assessment of community knowledge, attitude, and stigma of Buruli ulcer disease in Southern Nigeria.},
  abstract = {<p><strong>Background: </strong>Poor knowledge can influence timely care-seeking among persons with Buruli ulcer disease (BUD).</p>

<p><strong>Objectives: </strong>To assess community knowledge, attitude and stigma towards persons with BUD in endemic settings of Southern Nigeria.</p>

<p><strong>Methods: </strong>This was a cross-sectional survey conducted among adult community members in four States of Southern Nigeria. A semi-structured interviewer-administered questionnaire was administered to all participants.</p>

<p><strong>Results: </strong>Of 491 adults who completed the survey, 315 (64.2%) belonged to the ≤40 years age group, 257 (52.3%) were males and 415 (84.5%) had some formal education. The overall mean (SD) knowledge score was 5.5±2.3 (maximum 10). Only 172 (35.0%) of the participants had a good knowledge of BUD. A total of 327 (66.6%) considered BUD as a very serious illness. Also, there was a high-level of stigma against BUD patients; 372 (75.8%) of the participants felt compassion for and desire to help them, 77 (15.7%) felt compassion but tended to stay away from them, and 53 (10.8%) feared them because they may infect them with the disease. Having a formal education and ethnicity were independent predictors of good knowledge of BUD.</p>

<p><strong>Conclusion: </strong>There is poor community knowledge of BUD in endemic settings of Southern Nigeria which influenced the attitude and perceptions of community members towards persons with BUD.</p>
},
  year = {2019},
  journal = {African health sciences},
  volume = {19},
  pages = {2100-2111},
  issn = {1729-0503},
  url = {https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6794545/pdf/AFHS1902-2100.pdf},
  doi = {10.4314/ahs.v19i2.34},
  language = {eng},
}