Objectives: To determine the extent of patients and diagnostic delay while attending the health facility and their associated factor in patients with bacteriologically confirmed pulmonary TB.
Methodology: This was cross sectional study was conducted by interviewing 114 respondent with confirmed pulmonary tuberculosis from Institute of Chest Disease, Kotri Hospital, District Jamhoro, Pakistan. Delay was defined as start of symptoms and first visit at the public health facility/hospital and >4 weeks (30 days) were considered patient delay. Diagnostic delay was onset from first consultation to microscopically proven TB. Hence, total delay was defined by combination of patient and diagnostic delay in this study.
Results: Out of 114 patients, 71(62.3%) were male and 43(37.5%) female. Average mean age 37±16.30 years. Median delay was calculated 56 days. Associated symptoms were cough, fever, chest pain, knowledge of patients, education, residence and access to health facility. Majority of the respondents were illiterate (75%) and around (68%) were living in rural areas of Sindh.
Conclusion: Lack of awareness and education regarding factors like cough, fever were negligible resulting the delay in seeking health care by patients and lack of specific investigation in respect to TB by doctors both in private and public sectors. Hence, an appropriate guidelines should be implemented for to aware the TB patients regarding timely detection and diagnosis in Pakistan.
Key words: Pulmonary TB, Delay diagnosis, Healthcare, patients awareness and health seeking behavior.
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