Factors contributing to tuberculosis patients' delay in seeking medical advice; Ndola; Zambia

ABSTRACT

70 tuberculosis patients between 20 and 50 years were randomly selected as a study example. The total sample size was 100 including 30 nurses who were also selected randomly as study objects. To compliment findings from this study; two separate Focus Group discussions were held with health providers and community members. Significantly factors that were determined as contributing to patient delay were; ignorance of patients on nature of symptoms experienced; influence of significant others; quality of existing health facilities; residential area of respondents; lack of adequate health education; financial constraints and age of the respondents