Prevalence of delay in seeking tuberculosis care and the health care seeking behaviour profile of tuberculous patients in a rural district of Kwazulu Natal, South Africa

4Citations
Citations of this article
42Readers
Mendeley users who have this article in their library.
Get full text

Abstract

Introduction: patient delay in seeking TB (tuberculosis) care is reported as one of the major hurdles undermining the efforts of controlling TB by many TB control programmes of the world. The main aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of this phenomenon and to profile the TB patients that delayed seeking TB care in a rural area of KwaZulu Natal province of South Africa. Methods: this was a cross-sectional study, conducted among 200 TB patients attending primary health care facilities in Ugu District. Patient data were collected by a self-administered questionnaire, entered into an Excel file and imported into the EpiInfo 7 statistical software for analysis. Frequency tables were used to display the data and the p value was used for statistical significance. Results: about 40% of the participants delayed seeking TB care in this study, and these were mostly individuals who were married, the employed and those who walked to the clinic. Delay was also prevalent among those that self-medicated, bought medication from the pharmacy and sought TB care from a private doctor. The reasons included the great distances, long queues waiting at the facilities, and not feeling ill. Conclusion: the 4 weeks cut-off in seeking TB care in this study far exceeds the recommended 2 weeks. This study recommends periodic active TB case finding and active engagement between the public and the private health sectors.

References Powered by Scopus

Extensively drug-resistant tuberculosis as a cause of death in patients co-infected with tuberculosis and HIV in a rural area of South Africa

1422Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Rifampin resistance missed in automated liquid culture system for Mycobacterium tuberculosis isolates with specific rpoB mutations

187Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Outbreak of multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in South Africa undetected by WHO-endorsed commercial tests: an observational study

112Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Cited by Powered by Scopus

Why and where?—Delay in Tuberculosis care cascade: A cross-sectional assessment in two Indian states, Jharkhand, Gujarat

2Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Pre-Diagnosis Health Seeking Behaviors and Experiences Post-Diagnosis, among Men Diagnosed with Tuberculosis in a District of Gauteng Metropolitan City, South Africa: In-Depth Interviews

2Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Tuberculosis treatment delay and associated factors among pulmonary tuberculosis patients at public health facilities in Dale District and Yirgalem Town administration, Sidama Region, South Ethiopia

1Citations
N/AReaders
Get full text

Register to see more suggestions

Mendeley helps you to discover research relevant for your work.

Already have an account?

Cite

CITATION STYLE

APA

Chiposi, L., Cele, L. P., & Mokgatle, M. (2021). Prevalence of delay in seeking tuberculosis care and the health care seeking behaviour profile of tuberculous patients in a rural district of Kwazulu Natal, South Africa. Pan African Medical Journal, 39. https://doi.org/10.11604/pamj.2021.39.27.26717

Readers' Seniority

Tooltip

PhD / Post grad / Masters / Doc 11

65%

Researcher 6

35%

Readers' Discipline

Tooltip

Nursing and Health Professions 9

53%

Social Sciences 3

18%

Medicine and Dentistry 3

18%

Economics, Econometrics and Finance 2

12%

Save time finding and organizing research with Mendeley

Sign up for free