Pulmonary tuberculosis in Patna, India: Durations, delays, and health care seeking behaviour among patients identified through household surveys.

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND:Delays in accessing effective health care plays a pivotal role in increasing Tuberculosis (TB) transmission within the community. Patna, North India, with high levels of poverty and weak public health system, faces huge challenges for achieving effective TB control. The study aims to determine delays that occur from onset of TB symptoms until initiation of pulmonary TB (PTB) treatment among patients in Patna. METHODS:Of the 109 self-reporting TB patients identified through an active household survey, 64 PTB patients were interviewed. First care seeking, TB diagnostic and treatment initiation durations were calculated and delays defined for new and retreatment patients and minors and adults. Outliers exhibiting extreme delays were additionally identified. RESULTS:A cross sMean to

SUBMITTER: Mistry N 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7384577 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Dec

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature