title: Long distance travelling and financial burdens discourage tuberculosis DOTs treatment initiation and compliance in Ethiopia: a qualitative study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Timely tuberculosis treatment initiation and compliance are the two key factors for a successful tuberculosis control program. However, studies to understand patents' perspective on tuberculosis treatment initiation and compliance have been limited in Ethiopia. The aim of this study is to attempt to do that in rural Ethiopia.
  
  
  METHODS
  This qualitative, phenomenological study conducted 26 in-depth interviews with tuberculosis patients. A thematic content analysis of the interviews was performed using the Open Code software version 3.1.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We found that lack of geographic access to health facilities, financial burdens, use of traditional healing systems and delay in diagnosis by health care providers were the main reasons for not initiating tuberculosis treatment timely. Lack of geographic access to health facilities, financial burdens, quality of health services provided and social support were also identified as the main reasons for failing to fully comply with tuberculosis treatments.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study highlighted complexities surrounding tuberculosis control efforts in Dabat District. Challenges of geographic access to health care facilities and financial burdens were factors that most influenced timely tuberculosis treatment initiation and compliance. Decentralization of tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment services to peripheral health facilities, including health posts is of vital importance to make progress toward achieving tuberculosis control targets in Ethiopia.
authors: Institute of Public Health, the University of Gondar, Gondar, Ethiopia. takele_tadesse@yahoo.com
authors: Takele
authors: T
authors: Tadesse
authors: Meaza
authors: M
authors: Demissie
authors: Yemane
authors: Y
authors: Berhane
authors: Yigzaw
authors: Y
authors: Kebede
authors: Markos
authors: M
authors: Abebe
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017281:Cost of Illness; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D023801:Directly Observed Therapy / Q000191:economics*; D005002:Ethiopia; D005260:Female; D006297:Health Services Accessibility / Q000191:economics* / Q000592:standards; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D055118:Medication Adherence; D008875:Middle Aged; D010342:Patient Acceptance of Health Care; D010349:Patient Compliance; D036301:Qualitative Research; D012424:Rural Population; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors; D014195:Travel / Q000523:psychology; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000188:drug therapy*; D055815:Young Adult
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