Abstract:

Objective    To explore the health seeking behavior of rural tuberculosis (TB) patients in Shandong Province. Methods    Three counties in Shandong Province were selected as study sites, and a total of 247 new smear-positive rural patients registered in the county TB dispensary were interviewed using a structured questionnaire. Results   Nearly 75% of rural TB patients visited at least two healthcare providers before they went to the county TB dispensary. 58% of TB patients made the village clinic the health institution of choice in the health-seeking process, of which 75% were initially diagnosed as having a cold. From village clinic to county hospital then to county TB dispensary, from county hospital to county TB dispensary, and from village clinic to township health center then to county TB dispensary are the main health seeking models. Conclusion   Rural TB patients have to go to many health institutions before they get standard anti-TB treatment. Visiting the village clinic first results in a more complex health-seeking process.

Key words: Rural; Tuberculosis, lung; Health seeking behavior