Awareness, Knowledge, and Perceptions of Neglected Tropical Diseases among Personnel of a Tertiary Hospital in Makurdi, Nigeria: Controlling Neglected Tropical Diseases.

内容摘要

Neglected Tropical Diseases (NTDs) are a group of 20 diverse communicable diseases of significant public health concern. Adequately trained personnel play a vital role in implementing effective NTD control programs, as their expertise directly influences patient outcomes and the overall success of intervention strategies. This study assessed the awareness, knowledge, and perceptions of NTDs among staff in a tertiary healthcare facility in Benue State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional descriptive design was employed to study 310 randomly selected respondents using an interviewer-administered, semi-structured questionnaire. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical techniques. The majority of respondents were aged 31-50 years (75.4%), predominantly female (54.8%), married (72.9%), and had tertiary education (97.4%). Most were health-related professionals (59.7%). Overall, 72.6% of respondents were aware of NTDs, but only 42.6% demonstrated good knowledge. The main source of information was schools/seminars (85.8%). However, only 18.5% could name at least one NTD. Health-related disciplines significantly influenced knowledge, including recognition of NTDs as public health issues (P = 0.030) and awareness of vaccine-preventable NTDs (P = 0.001). Preventive measures such as health education and improved sanitation were widely endorsed. While awareness of NTDs was relatively high, good knowledge remained suboptimal, particularly among non-health-related professionals. Health-related disciplines significantly influenced both awareness and knowledge, underscoring the need for targeted educational interventions in non-health sectors. Strengthening public health education, integrating NTD-related content into broader curricula, and prioritizing funding for NTD control measures are recommended to bridge knowledge gaps and promote effective prevention strategies.