Currently submitted to: JMIR Pediatrics and Parenting
Date Submitted: Oct 28, 2025
Open Peer Review Period: Dec 27, 2025 - Feb 27, 2026
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Knowledge, Perceptions, and Practices Related to Pediatric Tuberculosis Among Caregivers and Health Care Providers in Kabondo Dianda Health Zone, Democratic Republic of Congo: A Descriptive Cross-Sectional Study
ABSTRACT
Background:
Pediatric tuberculosis (TB) remains a significant public health concern in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), particularly in rural areas where diagnostic capacity and community awareness are limited. Despite national efforts to reduce TB-related morbidity and mortality, the detection and management of pediatric TB are hindered by low levels of knowledge among caregivers, misconceptions about transmission, and systemic constraints within health facilities.
Objective:
This study aimed to assess the knowledge, perceptions, and practices of caregivers and health care providers regarding pediatric tuberculosis in the Kabondo Dianda health zone. It sought to identify behavioral and structural factors that contribute to delayed diagnosis and suboptimal management of TB in children.
Methods:
A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2020 to December 2022 in five diagnostic and treatment centers (CSDTs) within the Kabondo Dianda health zone. Data were collected using KoboCollect and analyzed with SPSS. The study included 163 caregivers of children with TB and 27 health care providers. Quantitative variables were summarized using medians and interquartile ranges, while categorical variables were presented as frequencies and proportions. A scoring system was developed to assess knowledge levels.
Results:
Among caregivers, 95.1% demonstrated low knowledge of pediatric TB, and 45% believed TB was not transmissible. Over one-quarter attributed TB to supernatural causes. Only 3.7% of pediatric TB cases received HIV screening, and just 18.5% of providers routinely sent samples for GeneXpert testing. Although 59.3% of providers had high knowledge scores, 92.7% were unaware of latent TB forms. Nearly two-thirds of caregivers sought care only after disease progression or treatment failure.
Conclusions:
The study revealed critical gaps in community knowledge and provider practices regarding pediatric TB. Misconceptions, delayed care-seeking, and limited diagnostic efforts contribute to underreporting and poor outcomes. Strengthening community education, provider training, and diagnostic infrastructure is essential to reduce pediatric TB morbidity and mortality in rural Congolese settings.
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