Publication:

Diagnosis delay and factors associated with delay among tuberculosis patients in Mombasa County, Kenya

Background Most tuberculosis (TB) transmissions occur between the onset of symptoms and treatment initiation. Early case identification and treatment initiation is an effective method to control the spread of TB, but the lack of a clear understanding about the extent of TB diagnostic delay and the factors contributing to delay continue to derail progress in combating the disease. The purpose of this study was to determine the extent of diagnostic delay and factors associated with delay among TB patients.

Methods An analytic cross-sectional survey of 302 TB patients on the intensive phase of treatment was carried out to determine the diagnostic delay period among TB patients. Data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire. The mean patient delay and associations between the length of patient delay and the various independent variables were determined.

Results The mean diagnostic delay was 47 days, patient delay was 34 days and health system delay was 13 days. Patients with extrapulmonary TB had lengthy diagnostic delay of 81 days. Prolonged delay was associated with low TB awareness.

Conclusions The study findings underscore the need to improve the quality of TB awareness in the community; campaigns should go beyond providing general information about TB to emphasize on early care-seeking.