title: Predictors on delay of initial health-seeking in new pulmonary tuberculosis cases among migrants population in East China.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the length of delay in initial health-seeking in new pulmonary tuberculosis (PTB) cases among migrant population in the eastern part of China, and factors associated with it.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cross-sectional study was conducted using a structured questionnaire in six counties in Shanghai, Guangdong and Jiangsu from May to October, 2008, to estimate the extent and factors responsible for delayed initial health-seeking of the new PTB cases. The interval between self-reported onset of TB symptoms and date of first attendance at any medical institution was determined. More than the median duration was defined as delayed health-seeking.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 323 new migrant PTB patients participated in the study. Only 6.5% had medical insurance. The median and mean durations to initial health-seeking were respectively 10 and 31 days. There was no significant association between socio-demographic factors and delayed initial health-seeking. Average monthly working days >24 (AOR, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.03-2.51), and hemoptysis or bloody sputum (AOR, 0.48; 95% CI, 0.28-0.85) were significantly associated with delayed initial health-seeking.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Interventions to improve health seeking behavior among the migrant population in China must focus on strengthening their labor, medical security and health education.
authors.affiliation: National Center for Tuberculosis Control and Prevention, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Xinxu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Shiwen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Jian
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Mei
authors.forename: Qiu
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: Weiguo
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Weibin
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Xiaoqiu
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Hui
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Lixia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D001294:Attitude to Health; D002681:China; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015995:Prevalence; D012424:Rural Population; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014171:Transients and Migrants; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*