Author(s)

Loukia Aketi^1*, Joseph Shiku Diayisu¹, Zacharie Kashongwe², Grâce Nkabikueni¹, Patrick Kayembe Kalambay³, Jean-Marie Kayembe²

¹Cardio-Pulmonary and Infectious Diseases Unit, Department of Pediatrics, University Hospital of Kinshasa, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
²Pneumology Service, Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital of Kinshasa, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.
³Epidemiology and Biostatistics, Public Health School, University of Kinshasa, Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of Congo.

Introduction: To participate effectively in the fight against tuberculosis (TB), mothers need to have a good knowledge of TB and its prevention. The objective of this study was to evaluate the knowledge of mothers about TB and Bacillus Calmette Guérin (BCG). Methods: This was a cross-sectional survey performed from September to December 2015 in 4 health care facilities of Kinshasa. It concerned mothers of children who received BCG vaccine. The frequencies and chi-square of Pearson were used to report results. Results: A total of 380 couples of the children and their mothers were recruited. The median age of children was 16 months (ranges: 6 days to 59 months); 224 (58.9%) of them received BCG during the period recommended; 62 (16.3%) experienced a side effect. There was a significant association (p = 0.00) between sides effects and the delayed vaccination. The average age of the mothers was 29.3 ± 6.4 years; 352 (92.6%) had heard about TB; 28 (7.4%) never heard about it; 168 (44.2%) knew that TB is a contagious disease; only 111 (29.2%) knew the mode of transmission; 87 (22.9%) did not know any signs of TB, and 54 (14.2%) knew about prevention with the BCG vaccine. Factors significantly associated with the mothers’ lack of knowledge were a low level of education (p = 0.01), young age (p = 0.02), and place of residence (p = 0.04). Conclusion: There is an urgent need to improve the education of the population, particularly those who lives in poor conditions and who are uneducated.

Maternal Knowledge, Tuberculosis, BCG, Children

Aketi, L. , Diayisu, J. , Kashongwe, Z. , Nkabikueni, G. , Kalambay, P. and Kayembe, J. (2017) Maternal Knowledge of Tuberculosis and Bacillus Calmette Guerin Vaccination in Pediatric Health Services in Kinshasa. Journal of Tuberculosis Research, 5, 30-43. doi: 10.4236/jtr.2017.51004.