Community Awareness, Knowledge, Attitudes, and Perceptions Toward Viral Disease Outbreaks in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

Background: The frequency and scale of viral disease outbreaks are increasing globally, with communities in sub-Saharan Africa disproportionately affected due to structural, social, and health-system vulnerabilities. Community knowledge, attitudes, and perceptions (KAP) play a critical role in outbreak prevention, control, and response. This study assessed KAP related to viral disease outbreaks among adults in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, following recent outbreaks, including COVID-19, Mpox, and Marburg virus disease. Methods: ) tests, and regression analyses to explore associations between KAP domains and participant characteristics. Results: = 0.02). Vaccine hesitancy was primarily driven by concerns about vaccine efficacy and fear of side effects rather than overall knowledge deficits. Conclusion: Despite high general awareness of viral disease outbreaks, this study identifies critical weaknesses in specific knowledge, persistent stigma, and vaccine hesitancy that pose challenges for urban healthcare-seeking populations in Dar es Salaam. These findings underscore the need for a strategic shift from broad awareness campaigns to precision public health interventions, including targeted myth-busting, community-led anti-stigma initiatives, and proactive digital engagement to address misinformation, build trust, and strengthen collective outbreak response.