Impact of faith-based organizations on the level of knowledge and the use or willingness to use pre-marital testing and counseling in Buea: a cross-sectional study

Background Hereditary and sexually transmissible diseases are preventable through testing and counselling before marriage (Premarital testing and counselling) or before engaging in a sexual relationship. Multiple Christian and Muslim faith-based organizations (FBOs) in many countries including Cameroon have adopted compulsory premarital testing and counseling (PMTC) to enforce PMTC and achieve its potential benefits. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of FBO on the knowledge and use of PMTC in Buea. Methods This was a community-based, cross-sectional, analytic study conducted from January 2020 to July 2020 in the town of Buea. A total of 654 participants were recruited through multistage sampling. A 12-item questionnaire was used to assess knowledge of PMTC, and multivariable regression was used to examine the impact of FBO on use or willingness to use PMTC. Results: A total of 654 persons consented to the study and completed the questionnaire. Among the study participants were 412 (63%) members of FBOs and 242 (37%) non-members of FBOs. There was no significant difference in the use or willingness to use PMTC between members and non-members of FBO. About 79% of members of FBO reported that they used or were willing to use PMTC, while close to 81% of non-members of FBO used or were willing to use PMTC. Similarly, our study did not find a significant difference in the mean knowledge of PMTC among FBO members and non-members. Being legally married was strongly positively associated with the use/willingness to use PMTC (aOR: 7.10, CI: 0.07–0.30). Single parents (aOR: 0.48, CI: 2.15–2.81) and especially cohabiting persons (aOR: 0.29, CI: 0.23–0.45) were negatively associated with the use/willingness to use PMTC. Conclusion: In Buea, there were no significant differences in the level of knowledge and the use or willingness to use PMTC between members and non-members of faith-based organizations. Compared to legally married couples, cohabiting couples and single parents are less likely to do testing and counselling prior to engaging in a sexual relationship and bearing children.