Health-seeking behaviour and patient-related factors associated with the time to TB treatment initiation in four African countries: a cross-sectional survey.

ABSTRACT:

Introduction

In 2022, tuberculosis (TB) was the second-leading cause of global deaths from a single infectious agent. Delays in initiating TB treatment can lead to increased morbidity and mortality. We describe the total delay in treatment initiation, identify patient-related factors associated with time to treatment initiation and explore health-seeking behaviour prior to treatment initiation among people living with TB (PLTB) in four African countries.

Methods

Cross-sectional survey nested in a large prospective cohort of adults (≥18 years) with drug-susceptible pulmonary TB. PLTB enrolled in South Africa, Tanzania, Mozambique and The Gambia between September 2017 and January 2020. Structured questionnaires were used to collect data on demographics and map the patient expe

SUBMITTER: Sathar F 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC11816287 | biostudies-literature | 2024 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature