Awareness and perception of invasive fungal diseases among the Nigerian population

Abstract

Background: Invasive fungal diseases (IFDs) are a public health issue causing morbidity and mortality in millions annually, yet they remain under-recognised. Aim: To determine the awareness and perception of IFDs among Nigerians. Setting: Three states in Nigeria: Lagos, Oyo and Cross River. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study utilising multistage sampling to recruit participants who responded to an interviewer-administered questionnaire. Logistic regression was used to determine factors associated with awareness and perception of IFDs, and a p-value of < 0.05 was taken for statistical significance. Results: One thousand two hundred and forty one participants were recruited with a mean age of 37.1 ± 16.1 years. The highest percentage had tertiary education as the highest educational attainment 538 (43.4%) and monthly household income within the lowest range of less than 30 000.00 naira ($40.00) 320 (25.8%). Awareness of IFDs was low 240 (19.3%) among the participants. Most participants 820 (66.1%) also had poor perception of fungal diseases. Tertiary education level showed higher IFD awareness (p < 0.001) than lower educational levels. Higher educational level was also associated with better perception, with secondary (p = 0.049), tertiary (p < 0.001) and postgraduate (p < 0.001) participants showing significantly better perception compared to those without formal education. Conclusion: Awareness and perception of invasive fungal infections among the Nigerian populace were low. There is a need for public health awareness and education on IFDs in Nigeria. Contribution: This study provides baseline data and crucially highlights a need for increased public health campaigns to improve awareness of IFDs in Nigeria.