Delayed care-seeking and its underlying factors among patients with tuberculosis in Yangon, Myanmar

May Chan Oo; Kyaw Zarni Tun; Kyaw Ko Ko; Pyae Linn Aung

doi:10.3855/jidc.12663

Delayed care-seeking and its underlying factors among patients with tuberculosis in Yangon, Myanmar

Authors

May Chan Oo Public Health Office, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Kyaw Zarni Tun Public Health Office, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Kyaw Ko Ko Public Health Office, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand
Pyae Linn Aung Public Health Office, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.3855/jidc.12663

Keywords:

Tuberculosis, patients, delayed, care-seeking, underlying factors, Myanmar

Abstract

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) remains a major public health problem in Myanmar. Early care-seeking behaviors play a significant role in reducing TB transmission and speeding recovery. This study was conducted to estimate the proportion of patients with TB who delayed care-seeking and to identify underlying factors.

Methodology: The study population included patients with TB treated in a TB diagnostic center in April 2015. A total of 346 patients were chosen as eligible respondents. The data were collected using structured questionnaires and face-to-face interviews. In addition to descriptive statistics, chi-squared test and multiple logistic regression were performed to show any associations.

Results: The study revealed that 66.8% of patients delayed care-seeking, and the average duration of delay was 21 days. Using the chi-squared test, factors such as education, occupation, family income, knowledge of TB, possessing information about TB, having a family member or close friend contract TB, travel distance, and cost causing a burden were significantly associated with delayed care-seeking (p < 0.05). Multiple logistic regression analysis found that 4 variables exhibited significant associations: low levels of education, occupation as government staff member, possessing information about TB, and having a family member or close friend contract TB (p < 0.05).

Conclusion: The results from this study provide useful comprehensive information addressing underlying factors associated with delayed care-seeking behaviors. These can be used to advance health education interventions regarding TB and strengthen early diagnosis of TB within community settings.

Author Biography

Pyae Linn Aung, Public Health Office, Faculty of Public Health, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand

Myanmar Health Network Organization, Yangon, Myanmar

Downloads

Published

2020-06-30

How to Cite

Oo MC, Tun KZ, Ko KK, Aung PL (2020) Delayed care-seeking and its underlying factors among patients with tuberculosis in Yangon, Myanmar. J Infect Dev Ctries 14:631–641. doi: 10.3855/jidc.12663

Download Citation

Endnote/Zotero/Mendeley (RIS)

Issue

Vol. 14 No. 06: June 2020

Section

Original Articles

License

Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:

Authors retain copyright and grant the journal right of first publication with the work simultaneously licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgement of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
Authors are able to enter into separate, additional contractual arrangements for the non-exclusive distribution of the journal's published version of the work (e.g., post it to an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgement of its initial publication in this journal.
Authors are permitted and encouraged to post their work online (e.g., in institutional repositories or on their website) prior to and during the submission process, as it can lead to productive exchanges, as well as earlier and greater citation of published work (See The Effect of Open Access).