title: Gateway to the diagnosis of tuberculosis among elders in Brazilian municipalities.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  to analyze the factors associated with the gateway of the health systems of Brazilian municipalities for the diagnosis of tuberculosis in older people.
  
  
  METHODS
  survey study type, with a sample of 91 elders, in a population with 706 cases of tuberculosis. Data were collected by means of an instrument based on the Primary Care Assessment Tool (PCAT) adapted for tuberculosis care, emphasizing the gateway variable. Variables were categorized and compared between primary health care (PHC) and specialized care (SC) services. Bivariate analysis and the Chi-square association test were used.
  
  
  RESULTS
  a statistically significant association (p = 0.0001) was found between the fi rst health service sought and the unit that diagnosed tuberculosis, showing better performance of specialized care services in the diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  it is necessary to improve primary health care services to tackle delayed diagnosis of tuberculosis in older people.
authors: Departamento de Enfermagem Saúde Pública e Psiquiatria, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, PB, BR.
authors: Lenilde Duarte
authors: LD
authors: de Sá
authors: Instituto de Departamento de Medicina Social, Universidade Federal do Triângulo Mineiro, Uberaba, MG, BR.
authors: Lucia Marina
authors: LM
authors: Scatena
authors: Departamento de Enfermagem Geral e Especializada, Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, BR.
authors: Rosalina Aparecida Partezanni
authors: RA
authors: Rodrigues
authors: Departamento de Enfermagem Clínica, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, PB, BR.
authors: Jordana de Almeida
authors: Jde A
authors: Nogueira
authors: Departamento de Enfermagem Clínica, Centro de Ciências da Saúde, Universidade Federal da Paraíba, João Pessoa, PB, BR.
authors: Antonia Oliveira
authors: AO
authors: Silva
authors: Departamento de Enfermagem Materno-Infantil e Saúde Pública, Escola de Enfermagem de Ribeirão Preto, Universidade de São Paulo, Ribeirão Preto, SP, BR.
authors: Tereza Cristina Scatena
authors: TC
authors: Villa
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001938:Brazil; D006299:Health Services for the Aged; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011320:Primary Health Care; D014376:Tuberculosis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014504:Urban Health