Delay in student pulmonary tuberculosis case finding and associated factors in Suzhou during 2011 to 2020 / 中国学校卫生

ABSTRACT

Objective@#To analyze delay in student pulmonary tuberculosis(PTB) case finding and associated factors in Suzhou, and to provide a reference for tuberculosis outbreak prevention and control in schools.@*Methods@#A total of 1 148 students with PTB who registered and were treated in Suzhou from 2011 to 2020 were included. Kruskal Wallis H test, 2 test and Cochran Armitage trend test were used to analyze the time trend of case finding delay. Logistic regression was used to analyze the correlation between admission characteristics and case finding delay.@*Results@#Among the students with PTB, a total of 569 cases were found to be delayed. The rate of delay was 49.6%, and the median delay time was 26(11-49) days. From 2011 to 2020, the difference in case finding interval of students with PTB was statistically significant( Hc=54.62, P <0.05), and the difference in case finding rate was also statistically significant( χ 2=53.69, P <0.05). The rate of delay fluctuated, with an overall upward trend over time( Z=-3.67, P < 0.05). Clinical consultation( OR=5.57, 95%CI =1.91-16.27), positive etiology ( OR=1.46, 95%CI =1.14-1.86) were positively correlated with case finding delay(all P <0.05).@*Conclusion@#There are significant delays in case finding among students with PTB in Suzhou. Clinical consultation and positive etiology are associated with case finding delay. In response to the growing problems in daily school tuberculosis prevention and control, multiple departments should cooperate to implement relevant measures and to reduce the occurrence of case finding delay.