Determinants of help seeking and treatment seeking behavior of Tuberculosis patients - Gender perspective: A systematic review

Abstract

Review Objectives : The overall objective of this systematic review is to critically appraise, synthesize and present the best available evidence on gender-based determinants of help seeking and treatment seeking behavior of TB patients. More specifically, the objective of this review is: To provide summarized evidence on: • Determinants of Health seeking behavior of male and female adult (18+ years old) TB patients • Perceived causes of tuberculosis among male and female patients • Whether gender differences exist in tuberculosis diagnosis, treatment seeking and perceived causes of TB • To make recommendations to improve utilization of health services by patients with tuberculosis of both sexes. This review will be conducted to ensure the most appropriate research designs and best quality research reports are identified to address the research objectives. Inclusion Criteria: Types of participants: The populations of interests in this review are male and female tuberculosis adult patients in both developed and developing countries. Tuberculosis patients are those that are diagnosed using a sputum smear positive for TB. Specifically, the review will consider studies where the population of interest are male and female tuberculosis patients aged 18 years and above living in either developing or developed countries. Types of Interventions/Phenomenon of interest: The phenomenon of interest is determinant of help seeking and treatment seeking behavior of TB patient‟s potential gender difference. Types of outcome measures: This review will include studies that examine potential gender differences in health and treatment seeking behaviors by TB patients. The main outcome measures include: patterns of distress, perceived causes of TB, delays in diagnosis and treatment adherence. Primary outcomes o Proportion of women and men who have appropriate health seeking behavior in TB o Proportion of women and men who have closely related perceptions on scientific causes of TB o Proportion of women and men who consider stigma related to TB o Proportion of women and men who seek delayed diagnosis to TB o Proportion of women and men who report various patterns of distress related to TB occurrence Secondary outcomes • Tuberculosis related complications • Tuberculosis related morbidity and mortality • Tuberculosis related treatment completion • Tuberculosis related defaulter rate