Tuberculosis’ Total Health care system and patient side diagnosis and Treatment Delay and Associated Factors Among Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients At Hadiya Zone Public Health Facilities, Southern Ethiopia.

Abstract

Background: Delay in TB treatment is significant to both disease prognoses at the individual level and within the community. Even though studies conducted in TB treatment delay there is result inconsistencies due to differences in culture, environment and infrastructure.
 Objective: the aim of the study is to assess the tuberculosis treatment Delay and associated factor among pulmonary tuberculosis patients.
 Method: Facility based cross sectional study triangulated by Qualitative study was employed on 340 PTB patients in Hadiya zone public health facilities. Three woredas and health facilities were selected by Simple random sampling method. DOTS user at the beginning of data collection was consecutively recruited in to the study until the intended sample size was fulfilled. Multivariable binary Logistic regression was used. A P-value < 0.05 at 95 % CI was considered statistical significance between dependent and predictors variables.
 Result: Among 340 PTB patients enrolled in the study, of which 49.1% experienced patient delay, 30% health system delay and 49.8% total delay. Unable to read and write, Poor knowledge of TB (AOR 3.96, 95% CI (2.28 6.86), self-treatment (AOR: 2, 95% CI (1.14, 3.93), financial constraint (AOR: 2.092, 95% CI (1.11, 3.945) , Visiting two or more health care providers (AOR: 3.40, 95% CI (1.910 – 6.07), prolonged referral (AOR: 3.004, 95% CI (1.59, 5.67) were independent predictors of delay.
 Conclusion: Nearly half of the total delay was contributed by patient delay. Unable to read and write, Poor knowledge of TB, self-treatment, financial constraints, prolonged referral, several visit of health care provider of two or more and ever used other drugs rather than Anti-TB drugs were found to have association with patient delay and health system delay.
 Keywords: Tuberculosis treatment delay, PTB, patient delay and health system delay, Hadiya zone, Ethiopia.