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Mmolawa L, Siwelana T, Hanrahan CF, Lebina L, Martinson NA, Dowdy D, Nonyane BAS. Time to care-seeking for TB symptoms. Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2022; 26:268-275. [PMID: 35197167 PMCID: PMC9636494 DOI: 10.5588/ijtld.21.0447] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND: Early presentation to healthcare facilities is critical for early diagnosis and treatment of TB. We studied self-reported time to care-seeking from the onset of TB symptoms among primary healthcare clinic (PHC) attendees in Limpopo Province, South Africa.METHODS: We used data from participants enrolled in a cluster-randomized trial of TB case finding in 56 PHC clinics across two health districts. We fitted log-normal accelerated failure time regression models and we present time ratios (TRs) for potential risk factors.RESULTS: We included 2,160 participants. Among the 1,757 (81%) diagnosed with active TB, the median time to care-seeking was 30 days (IQR 14-60); adults sought care later than children/adolescents (adjusted TR aTR 1.47, 95% CI 1.10-1.96). Among those not diagnosed with TB, the median was 14 days (IQR 7-60); being HIV-positive (aTR 1.57, 95% CI 1.03-2.40); having less than grade 8 education and currently smoking were associated with longer time to care-seeking. In the combined analysis, living with HIV and having underlying active TB was associated with faster care-seeking (TB status x HIV interaction: TR 0.68, 95% CI 0.48-0.96).CONCLUSION: Delay in care-seeking was associated with age, lower education and being a current smoker. TB awareness campaigns targeting these population groups may improve care-seeking behavior and reduce community TB transmission.
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Affiliation(s)
- L Mmolawa
- Perinatal HIV Research Unit, South Africa Medical Research Council Soweto Matlosana Collaborating Centre for HIV/AIDS and TB, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - T Siwelana
- Perinatal HIV Research Unit, South Africa Medical Research Council Soweto Matlosana Collaborating Centre for HIV/AIDS and TB, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - C F Hanrahan
- Departments of Epidemiology and International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD
| | - L Lebina
- Perinatal HIV Research Unit, South Africa Medical Research Council Soweto Matlosana Collaborating Centre for HIV/AIDS and TB, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - N A Martinson
- Perinatal HIV Research Unit, South Africa Medical Research Council Soweto Matlosana Collaborating Centre for HIV/AIDS and TB, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa, Johns Hopkins University, Center for TB Research, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - D Dowdy
- Departments of Epidemiology and International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, Johns Hopkins University, Center for TB Research, Baltimore, MD, USA
| | - B A S Nonyane
- Departments of Epidemiology and International Health, Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health, Baltimore, MD, Perinatal HIV Research Unit, South Africa Medical Research Council Soweto Matlosana Collaborating Centre for HIV/AIDS and TB, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
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