Cutaneous Leishmaniasis: Knowledge, Attitude and Practice among Physicians in Healthcare Centers of Endemic Area, Biskra district, Algeria

Abstract

In Algeria Cutaneous Leishmaniasis remain a public health concern, which is endemic in different provinces including Biskra; the highest focus of the dis-ease in the country. There for our aim was to assess the knowledge, attitude and practice on CL among health care physicians in Biskra province. A de-scriptive cross sectional study was carried out among 120 doctors practicing in private and state health centers areas of the eight localities of the prov-ince. Data were collected through a structured self-administered question-naire from December 2018 to March 2019. Questionnaire consisted of ques-tions related to the knowledge, attitude and practice (KAP) of the disease. The most of the staff (98.3%) knew that the Upper limb is a commonly affect-ed body parts. And at risk groups were observed in 0–10 years persons (82.5%). Most of the respondents believed the disease incidence is higher in men than women. Number of lesions varied with single and double lesions being observed in the majority of patients (50%) and (66.7%) respectively. Some believed that autumn was the main peak incidence of the disease. There was also good Knowledge regarding the clinical features. Majority (89.2%) of respondents knew Wound swab for microscopy culture and sensi-tivity as a definitive diagnostic test for CL. However, most of the respondents knew the pentavalent antimony compound (Glucantime) the conventional drugs for treating CL (95.83%). The study results demonstrated that majority of physicians had adequate knowledge about the disease. Having well trained technical personnel is important to empower the public health con-tribution.