Community drivers of tuberculosis diagnostic delay in Kampala, Uganda: a retrospective cohort study.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Recent approaches to TB control have focused on identifying and treating active cases to halt further transmission. Patients with TB symptoms often delay to seek care, get appropriate diagnosis, and initiate effective treatment. These delays are partly influenced by whom the patients contact within their community network. We aimed to evaluate the community drivers of diagnostic delay in an urban setting in Uganda.

Methods

In this study we analyze data from a retrospective cohort of 194 TB patients in Kampala, Uganda. We characterized the patterns of contacts made by patients seeking care for TB symptoms. The main outcome of interest was total community contact delay, defined as the time patients spent seeking care before visiting a provider capable of diagnosing

SUBMITTER: Mercaldo R 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC8255016 | biostudies-literature | 2021 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature