1Assistant Professor, Dept. of Community Medicine, Alluri Sita Ramaraju Academy of Medical Sciences, Eluru, A.P.
2Assistant Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Prathima Medical College, Karimnagar, Telangana
3Professor & Head, Department of Community Medicine, Narayana Medical College, Nellore, A.P.
4Professor, Department of Community Medicine, Alluri Sita Ramaraju Academy of Medical Sciences, Eluru, A.P.
5Professor & Head, Department of Community Medicine, Alluri Sita Ramaraju Academy of Medical Sciences, Eluru, A.P.
*Corresponding author: V Mahesh Kumar Chinta Asst. Professor, Dept. of. Community Medicine, ASRAMS, Eluru, A.P Cell. 9502105541. E. Mailmahesh.commed@gmail.com
Online published on 4 July, 2016.
Early diagnosis and prompt initiation of treatment is essential for an effective tuberculosis control program. Delay in the diagnosis may worsen the disease, increase the risk of death and enhance tuberculosis transmission in the community. If the delays in diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis are reduced, it can further improve cure rate and decrease number of new cases.
To determine patient and health system delays and associated factors among NSP tuberculosis patients.
It is a community based cross sectional study in district East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh. All NSP tuberculosis patients registered during 4th quarter of 2008, of age 15 and above from eight microscopy centers were selected through simple random method.
Average patient delay is 40 days. Long patient delay is associated with age, smoking habit, and first consultation with government provider. Median health system delay is 8 days. 38% patients had health system delay of more than 14 days. Health system delay is more when patient first consulted private provider.
Awareness among people about tuberculosis and acceptance of RNTCP guidelines by private providers can result in better cure rates and fewer new cases.
Tuberculosis, Health seeking behavior, Patient delays, Health system delays
