Health care seeking behavior of pulmonary tuberculosis patients visiting TB Center Rawalpindi

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: To determine the health care seeking behavior of TB patients in seeking care and health care providers for delivering care. DESIGN: Cross sectional descriptive survey. The interviewers administered a standardized open-ended questionnaire after training and pre-testing. SETTING: Federal Government TB Center, Rawalpindi. [specialized TB clinic]. SUBJECT One hundred and sixty newly registered TB patients at TB Center, Rawalpindi between 20 November to 21 December 1998. Prior to their consulting TB Center, 96% patients had already reported to a health care provider, i.e., to first, second or third health care providers. OF 154 patients, 48 were diagnosed as TB and only 29 [19%] of them received antituberculosis treatment. Most of the patients 118 [77%] consulted the health care provider within three weeks time. Delay is more on part of health care providers than on patients. Proper implementation of guidelines of TB program with public-private sector collaboration and continuing education of health care providers is necessary