Community knowledge, attitudes and practices in relation to tuberculosis in Cameroon.

SETTING: 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.

OBJECTIVES: 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.

DESIGN: We conducted a cross-sectional descriptive study using structured questionnaires to assess and compare TB KAP in the entire territory.

RESULTS: 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.

CONCLUSION: 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.