title: Factors associated with patient's delay in tuberculosis treatment in Bahir Dar City administration, Northwest Ethiopia.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Unknown proportions of tuberculosis cases remain undiagnosed and untreated as result of several factors which further increases the number of tuberculosis cases per index case.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To identify factors associated with patient's delay in initiating treatment of tuberculosis. Methods. Cross-sectional study was employed from January to April, 2013, in Bahir Dar Ethiopia. A total of 360 patients were included. Data were collected from tuberculosis patients using a semistructured questionnaire. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 16 windows. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with patient delay.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of all patients, 211 (62%) sought medical care after the WHO recommended period (21 days). The median patient delays of smear positive, smear negative, and extrapulmonary patients were 27 (IQR: 10-59), 30 (IQR: 9-65), and 31 (IQR: 10-150) days, respectively, with statistically significant variations among them (ANOVA: F = 5.96; P < 0.003). Place of residence and educational status were the predictors of patient delay.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Around two-thirds of all patients and more than half of smear positive tuberculosis patients were delayed in seeking medical care within the recommended period. Provision of DOTS service in the vicinity and health education on TB may reduce patient delay and its consequences.
authors: Department of Pharmacology, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 79, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
authors: Endalew
authors: E
authors: Gebeyehu
authors: Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 79, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
authors: Muluken
authors: 0000-0003-3222-0158
authors: M
authors: Azage
authors: Department of Public Health, College of Medicine and Health Sciences, Bahir Dar University, P.O. Box 79, Bahir Dar, Ethiopia.
authors: Gedefaw
authors: G
authors: Abeje
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005002:Ethiopia / Q000453:epidemiology; D005260:Female; D006268:Health Facilities; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D012307:Risk Factors; D061665:Time-to-Treatment; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy*; D055815:Young Adult