Knowledge, Attitudes and Practices Regrading Cholera Outbreaks in Ilala Municipality of Dar Es Salaam Region, Tanznia

Objective: The aim of the study was to determine knowledge, attitudes and practices regarding cholera outbreaks and measure socio cultural practices that influence cholera outbreaks in Ilala Municipality in Dar es Salaam city, Tanzania. Study design: A cross sectional study was conducted in Ilala municipality in Dar es Salaam city. Methods: The study population was obtained using multistage sampling technique. One ward was sampled and within the ward 10 hamlets (administrative cluster consisting of 10 households) were randomly selected. All households within the hamlets were included into the study sample. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data concerning knowledge, attitudes and practices about cholera and factors influencing cholera occurrence within household settings. Information collected included the number of families and number of people in one house, availability of toilet facilities and number of toilets in one house. The research project was cleared by the ethical clearance committee of the Muhimbili University College of Health Sciences, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Informed consent was obtained from each consenting participant. Results: Three hundred and ten (310) respondents were included in the study of whom 186 (59.9%) were females and 124 (40.1%) were males aged between 18 and 84 years. The proportion of respondents with good knowledge of cholera in the study was 85%. The study revealed that the main practices associated with cholera occurrence among respondents with high level of knowledge in Ilala by water source were: use of piped water 84.3%, water from deep wells 88.3% and shallow wells 71.4%. The distribution of respondents by low knowledge and water source were: piped water 15.7%, shallow well 28.6% and deep well 11.7%. The proportions of respondents by low knowledge and water quantity were: adequate water 13.6% and inadequate water 18.3%. About 14% of the respondents with low level of knowledge of cholera drink water from wells without boiling while 31.8% drink unboiled piped water and wash their hands in a common container 21.6%. Furthermore the proportion of respondents with positive attitudes towards cholera prevention in this study was 97.4%. Conclusion and recommendations: The hygienic practices concerning cholera prevention were lagging behind knowledge and attitudes. A range of specific interventions are likely to be necessary for the control of cholera in this population. Misconceptions about transmissibility of cholera that cholera cannot be transmitted through cow’s dung, young children stool and chicken faeces need to be addressed.