SETTING: The state of Sabah contributes one third of the tuberculosis (TB) cases in Malaysia. OBJECTIVE: To collect information on factors that affect the time period from the onset of symptoms to first contact with health care providers, whether private or government. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study using a pre-tested questionnaire was conducted among 296 newly registered smear-positive TB patients in 10 districts in Sabah. Univariable and multivariable analyses were used to determine which risk factors were associated with patient delay (>30 days) and 'extreme' patient delay (>90 days). RESULTS: The percentage of patients who sought treatment after 30 and 90 days was respectively 51.8% (95%CI 45.7-57.9) and 23.5% (95%CI 18.6-29.0). The strongest factors associated with patient delay and 'extreme' patient delay was when the first choice for treatment was a non-government health facility and in 30-39-year-olds. 'Extreme' patient delay was also weakly associated, among other factors, with comorbidity and livestock ownership. CONCLUSION: Delay and extreme delay in seeking treatment were more common when the usual first treatment choice was a non-government health facility. Continuous health education on TB aimed at raising awareness and correcting misconceptions is needed, particularly among those who use non-government facilities.
SETTING: The state of Sabah contributes one third of the tuberculosis (TB) cases in Malaysia. OBJECTIVE: To collect information on factors that affect the time period from the onset of symptoms to first contact with health care providers, whether private or government. DESIGN: A cross-sectional study using a pre-tested questionnaire was conducted among 296 newly registered smear-positive TB patients in 10 districts in Sabah. Univariable and multivariable analyses were used to determine which risk factors were associated with patient delay (>30 days) and 'extreme' patient delay (>90 days). RESULTS: The percentage of patients who sought treatment after 30 and 90 days was respectively 51.8% (95%CI 45.7-57.9) and 23.5% (95%CI 18.6-29.0). The strongest factors associated with patient delay and 'extreme' patient delay was when the first choice for treatment was a non-government health facility and in 30-39-year-olds. 'Extreme' patient delay was also weakly associated, among other factors, with comorbidity and livestock ownership. CONCLUSION: Delay and extreme delay in seeking treatment were more common when the usual first treatment choice was a non-government health facility. Continuous health education on TB aimed at raising awareness and correcting misconceptions is needed, particularly among those who use non-government facilities.
Authors: Y Lin; D A Enarson; C-Y Chiang; I D Rusen; L-X Qiu; X-H Kan; Y-L Yuan; J Du; T-H Zhang; Y Li; X-F Li; C-T Du; L-X Zhang Journal: Public Health Action Date: 2015-03-21
Authors: Timothy William; Uma Parameswaran; Wai Khew Lee; Tsin Wen Yeo; Nicholas M Anstey; Anna P Ralph Journal: BMC Infect Dis Date: 2015-01-31 Impact factor: 3.090
Authors: Michelle May D Goroh; Giri Shan Rajahram; Richard Avoi; Christel H A Van Den Boogaard; Timothy William; Anna P Ralph; Christopher Lowbridge Journal: Infect Dis Poverty Date: 2020-08-26 Impact factor: 4.520
Authors: Yong Guang Teh; Nornazirah Azizan; Nur Atifah Mohd Naim; Chiak Yot Ng; Ke Juin Wong; Faizah Mohd Zaki Journal: Front Pediatr Date: 2021-12-09 Impact factor: 3.418