Demographic and socioeconomic disparity in knowledge, attitude, and practice towards tuberculosis in Northwest, China: evidence from multilevel model study

Background Tuberculosis (TB) remains a serious global public health problem in China. The right knowledge, attitude, and practice (KAP) towards TB are indispensable to appropriate healthcare-seeking behaviors and treatment services timely. However, there are few studies that addressed the KAP towards TB in high-risk and under-developing regions in China. This study aims to evaluate the KAP towards TB in Ningxia Northwest, China, and identify factors that influence it. The findings can guide future health education and promotion interventions. Methods A stratified multistage random sampling method was used to conduct a face-to-face questionnaire survey with 33 items for selected residents. The composite score of Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) was divided into two groups, which are poor (scores below the average) and good (scores above the average). A two-level logistic model with a random intercept equation accounted for the similarity of residents within communities to examine the association between individual-level KAP and demographic and socioeconomic factors. Results A total of 2,341 residents were recruited, the mean age was 50, and 41.2% were female. The percentages of residents who were total awareness of TB knowledge and had positive attitudes and behavior toward TB were 51.9%, 75.3%, and 76.2%, respectively. The two-level logistic model demonstrated that residents with a high annual family income, urban living, primary school education or higher, occupation of teacher or doctor, a very good self-perceived status, medical insurance, knowing DOTS, and family members or friends with TB history had better knowledge of TB (P < 0.05). Residents living in urban areas, with junior and senior high school education, a very good self-perceived status, health insurance, knowing DOTS, and family members or friends with TB history had positive attitude of TB (P < 0.05). Residents living in urban areas, a primary school education or higher, occupation of teacher, doctor and workers, a very good self-perceived status, medical insurance, knowing DOTS, and family members or friends with TB history had positive practice of TB (P < 0.05). Conclusions Favorable demographic (higher education levels, teachers or doctors) and socioeconomic (high income, living in urban area) factors are associated to better knowledge, attitudes and practices toward TB in Northwest China. Interventions to improve KAP at the community level are required to speed up the TB reduction rate, which may benefit to ensure the End TB Strategy will be achieved.