Delays in Tuberculosis Care in Hubei, China
Author Information
Author(s): Yang Qin, Yeqing Tong, Yin Xiaoxv, Qiu Lei, Sun Na, Zhao Yuxin, Li Dandan, Li Xiaotong, Gong Yanhong
Primary Institution: Tongji Medical College, Huazhong University of Science and Technology
Hypothesis
What are the risk factors contributing to delays in care seeking, diagnosis, and treatment of tuberculosis in Hubei, China?
Conclusion
Delays in tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment in Hubei remain a serious issue, necessitating improvements in healthcare accessibility.
Supporting Evidence
- 21.54% of patients experienced delays in care seeking.
- 23.62% of patients experienced delays in diagnosis.
- 42.25% of patients experienced delays in treatment.
- Patients with higher income were less likely to experience delays in care seeking.
- Female patients were more likely to experience delays in treatment.
Takeaway
This study found that many people with tuberculosis in Hubei, China, take a long time to get care, which can make them sicker and spread the disease.
Methodology
A cross-sectional study using stratified random sampling and multivariate logistic regression to analyze factors associated with delays.
Potential Biases
Potential bias due to the exclusion of patients with undiagnosed TB or those who refused treatment.
Limitations
Recall bias may affect the accuracy of self-reported data, and the study only included patients registered in designated institutions.
Participant Demographics
Mean age of participants was 47.72 years, with a mix of genders and varying levels of education and income.
Statistical Information
Confidence Interval
95% CI 1.71 to 3.96 for delays in diagnosis; 95% CI 2.00 to 4.07 for delays in treatment.
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
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