Assessing Tuberculosis Knowledge and Its Influence on Primary Healthcare Choice Among TB Patients: A Cross-Sectional Study in Nkoranza South Municipality of Ghana

Background: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health concern in Ghana, and delayed treatment and diagnosis have caused problems in controlling the disease. Patient knowledge regarding TB, its treatment, transmission, cause, and symptoms has been pinpointed as a determinant in triggering early healthcare-seeking behaviour. Thus, this study assessed tuberculosis knowledge and its influence on primary healthcare choice among TB patients in the Nkoranza South Municipality. Method: This cross-sectional study assessed the association between tuberculosis (TB) knowledge and Primary Healthcare Choice among TB patients. 286 TB patients aged 18 years and above, who received treatment between 2016 and 2020, participated in this study. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire. Descriptive statistics summarised socio-demographic, TB knowledge, and health-seeking behaviour variables. Fisher’s Exact Test and Logistic regression analysis were used to assess the associations and likelihood of seeking care at health facilities, respectively, with a significant threshold set at p<0.05 using SPSS version 26. Results: Out of the expected 297 respondents, 286 (96.3%) participated. Most respondents had high overall TB knowledge (88.1%). About 93% of respondents visit health facilities when they feel unwell. Major reasons for choosing where to access healthcare included easy accessibility (p<.001) and low cost (p = 0.049). On average, low TB knowledge (aOR = 0.16, 95%CI [0.04-0.60], p = 0.019), especially on treatment, was significantly associated with a lower likelihood of seeking care at a healthcare facility. Conclusion: This study found that while general TB knowledge among patients is high, gaps in areas such as knowledge about treatment significantly influence primary healthcare choices. Bridging these gaps in knowledge and access to services is crucial for improving early detection and treatment adherence, thereby strengthening TB control in Nkoranza South Municipality. Future studies should focus on designing and evaluating interventions that address structural barriers to accessing formal TB treatment.