Care seeking behaviour and various delays in tuberculosis patients registered under RNTCP in Pune city

Authors

  • Jayashree Sachin Gothankar
  • Usha Pravin Patil
  • Sunil R Gaikwad
  • Sulakshana B. Kamble

Abstract

Introduction: Case finding in tuberculosis is known to be influenced by factors such as patient motivation, care seeking, the degree of diagnostic suspicion by health care provider which could result in a delayed diagnosis.

Objective: To determine care seeking behaviour and delay in diagnosis and treatment of new sputum positive tuberculosis patients registered under RNTCP.

Material and Methods: Descriptive cross sectional study. 283 new sputum positive tuberculosis patients (?15 years of age) registered during a period of six months at two randomly selected tuberculosis unit of Pune city. Questionnaire by WHO was modified and used. Interviews were conducted in DOT centres. Statistical analysis: Frequency, mean and standard deviation, chi square test.

Results: Mean age of patients was 35 (±15) years18% of patients were unemployed and 77% resided in urban slums. The commonest co morbidity in 7.4% and 3.5 % patients was HIV/ AIDS followed by diabetics respectively. Majority of the patients, for the first and second time visited a general practitioner. Median patient, health care system and total delay were 18, 22 and 47 days with mean of 24±21, 32±30 and 56±33 days respectively. Health care system delay was less (p<0.05) in patients who first visited the public health care facility than patients who first visited a private health care provider.

Conclusions: General practitioners are preferred first choice of health care provider for tuberculosis patients. Mean health care system delay is more than patient delay.

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

Downloads

Published

2016-03-31

How to Cite

1.
Gothankar JS, Patil UP, Gaikwad SR, Kamble SB. Care seeking behaviour and various delays in tuberculosis patients registered under RNTCP in Pune city. Indian J Community Health [Internet]. 2016 Mar. 31 [cited 2024 Oct. 5];28(1):48-53. Available from: https://iapsmupuk.org/journal/index.php/IJCH/article/view/646

Issue

Section

Original Article

Dimensions Badge

Most read articles by the same author(s)