Abstract:

Objective  To explore the patient delay of TB suspecting farmers in districts with sputum collecting centers and its related factors in Shandong Province. Methods  According to terrain and performance of Sputum Collecting Centers, multistage stratified sampling was carried out. Eight counties were chosen for study fields. Results  245 TB suspects were interviewed, and 83.3% of them were farmers. The median of the farmer patient delay was 5 days. 28.4% of farmer patients delayed  over 14 days. There was no difference in patient delay for farmer patients checking sputum in township health centre and those in TB control centers. Logistic Regression showed that distance from home to a township health centers, personal earning, family members cured in hospital and lack of TB knowledge were significantly associated with delay in seeking care. Conclusion   We conclude that those living far from health facilities, earning little, with family members cured in hospital and lacking TB knowledge face long delays in reaching TB services.

Key words: Tuberculosis, pulmonary; Sputum; Delay; Impact factors