Magnitude between accessibility, time period, and tuberculosis diagnosis

Abstract

Objective: To analyze, from the perspective of tuberculosis patients, the relationship between accessibility to the health system, time period, and diagnosis. Methods: This is an analytical, correlational study with a cross-sectional design was carried out with 105 tuberculosis patients treated in Primary Healthcare and in the Specialized Reference Service of a priority municipality in Minas Gerais. Multiple correspondence analysis was used to identify the association between the components of accessibility to the health system, time period, and tuberculosis diagnosis. Results: A temporal association was observed with the delay in tuberculosis diagnosis, with a direct relationship between patients' first choice service, and hospitals were the places that gave diagnosis in a timely manner, revealing low resolution of primary care services for disease control actions, especially regarding the identification of respiratory symptoms. Conclusion: The findings highlight the urgency in the reorganization of tuberculosis care services, strengthening the decentralization of actions for Primary Healthcare, focusing on the early identification of respiratory symptoms and ensuring accessibility to healthcare services, in order to minimize the impacts of temporal extension on early diagnosis.