Research article

Delay in Tuberculosis case detection in Pwani region, Tanzania. a cross sectional study

Esther S Ngadaya^{* 1,2} , Godfrey S Mfinanga^{* 2} , Eliud R Wandwalo^{* 3,4} and Odd Morkve^{* 1}

¹Centre for International Health, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway

²Muhimbili Medical Research Centre, National Institute for Medical Research, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

³Ministry of Health and Social Welfare, National Tuberculosis and Leprosy Control Programme, (NTLP), P.O. Box 9083 Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

⁴Management Sciences for Health, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania

author email corresponding author email* Contributed equally

BMC Health Services Research 2009, 9:196doi:10.1186/1472-6963-9-196

Published:	29 October 2009

Abstract

Background

Delay in Tuberculosis (TB) case detection may worsen the disease and increase TB transmission. It is also a challenge to the National TB and Leprosy control Program (NTLP).

Methods

We conducted a cross sectional study in four out of six districts in Pwani region to estimate the extent and factors responsible for delay in TB case detection in Pwani region. Delays were divided into patient, health facility and total delay.

Results

We enrolled a total of 226 smear positive TB patients. Out of 226 patient's results were available for 206. The majority (66.5%) of the patients were males. Mean age for males and females were 37.3 and 33.7 years respectively. Mean (SD) total delay was 125.5 (98.5) days (median 90). Out of 206 patients, 79 (38.35%) delayed to seek TB health care. Health facility delay was observed among 121 (58.7%) patients.

Risk factors for delay was poor knowledge that chest pain may be a TB symptom (OR = 2.9; 95%CI 1.20- 7.03) and the belief that TB is always associated with HIV/AIDS (OR = 2.7; 95%CI 1.39-5.23). Risk for delay was low among patients who first presented to a government health facility (OR = 0.3; 95%CI 0.12- 0.71) and those presenting with chest pain (OR = 0.2; 95%CI 0.10-0.61).

Conclusion

There is a considerable delay in TB case detection in Pwani mainly contributed by patients. Risk factors for delay include misconception about TB/HIV and poor knowledge of TB symptoms.