Abstract
Objectives: Knowledge about tuberculosis (TB) and the perceived risk to individuals, families, and communities in Nigeria may increase the tendency of care-seeking with greatest importance. This study was aimed to determine the level of knowledge about TB in Aba, Nigeria; and its association with the attitude and practices of patients towards TB.
Methods: Data on socio-demographic characteristics, and questions regarding the etiology, transmission, prevention, treatment of TB, beliefs about TB and healthcare-seeking behavior were collected cross-sectional from 288 adult patients from November 2017 to March, 2018 in Living Word and Seventh Day Adventist Hospitals, Aba. Participants were patients who indicated willingness by filling a consent form and were at least 18 years old. Data collected were analyzed using Chi-squared test and multiple regression models.
Results: One-hundred eighty-eight (65.2%) of the study population had adequate knowledge about TB. The sources of knowledge were health workers (136 participants, 47.2%), Media (76, 26.4%), Friends (28, 9.7%), Family (28, 9.7%) and others (40, 13.9%). Their knowledge about TB was associated with level of education (α value= 0.05) but not with tendency to seek care from nearest facilities before hospital. The length of time they spent before visiting the hospital when they had TB symptoms was associated with their level of knowledge about TB, level of education, sex and severity of symptoms.
Conclusions: Level of knowledge about TB in the study area still needs to be improved. Means of creating awareness about TB should be diversified and the stop TB program strengthened. J Microbiol Infect Dis 2020; 10(1):24-30.

Key words: Tuberculosis, Knowledge, Practice, Delay, Care-seeking