Factors Associated with delayed treatment seeking among patients diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis disease at Bugando Teaching and Consultant Hospital and Sekou Toure Regional referral hospital.

John, Claus. Nchemwa

Factors Associated with delayed treatment seeking among patients diagnosed with pulmonary tuberculosis disease at Bugando Teaching and Consultant Hospital and Sekou Toure Regional referral hospital. - Mwanza, Tanzania: Catholic University of Health and Allied Sciences CUHAS - Bugando; ©2019 - vii; 46 Pages Includes References and Appendicies

Abstract:

Background: Assessment of delays in seeking care and diagnosis of tuberculosis is essential to evaluate effectiveness of tuberculosis control programs, and identify programmatic impediments. This study aimed to examine the extent of patient and health system factors associating with delays in diagnosis of tuberculosis in Lake Zone Tanzania.

Methodology: This was a prospective hospital based cross section conducted between August and November 2019. The study recruited 200 newly diagnosed TB patients attending outpatient clinic at Bugando teaching and consultant hospital and Sekou-Toure regional and referral hospital. Data was obtained by using well-structured and pre-tested questionnaire which was composed of patient’s demographic information, diagnostic methods and treatment categories.

Results: Among 200 participants, twenty-nine percent of patients delayed seeking care. Factors associated with patient delay were; Lack of awareness on the symptoms and signs of pulmonary tuberculosis (AOR 4.0, P< 0.001), lack of money for transportation from their home to health facility (AOR 2.6, P = 0.001), believe disease will disappear with time (AOR 1.8, P = 0.02), there were no health facility around and other patient assume diseases to be harmless. Diagnostic delay were contributed by les number of health care workers, faulty diagnostic equipments and long interval of follow up clinic caused by huge number of patient who need services.

Conclusion: Public awareness about chest symptoms and the availability of free diagnostic services should be increased. Physicians should be educated to be aware about the signs and symptoms of tuberculosis to facilitate easy diagnosis.


= Keywords: Tuberculosis Diagnosis and Treatment, mortality, infectious rate

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