Determinants of consultation, diagnosis and treatment delays among new smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Morocco: a cross-sectional study.

We conducted a cross-sectional survey in 2012 in 12 selected provinces and prefectures in Morocco to determine consultation delay (patient delay), diagnosis delay and treatment delay (health system delays), and factors relating to these delays. The sample included 250 eligible and consenting newly diagnosed smearpositive pulmonary tuberculosis patients who were interviewed at the time of their registration within Diagnosis of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases Reference Centers (CDTMR) or Integrated Health Centers (CSI) using a pretested and structured questionnaire. The median total delay was 46 days [inter-quartile interval (IQI) = 29-84 days]. Patient delay (median = 20; IQI = 8-47 days) was higher than health system delay (median=15; IIQ = 7-35 days). Being illiterate, thinking symptoms will disappear by themselves; having financial constraints and feeling fear of diagnosis or social isolation were associated with patient delay. Consulting first in the private sector or having 3 or more consultations before diagnosis was associated with health system delay.

Determinants of consultation, diagnosis and treatment delays among new smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Morocco: a cross-sectional study

We conducted a cross-sectional survey in 2012 in 12 selected provinces and prefectures in Morocco to determine consultation delay [patient delay], diagnosis delay and treatment delay [health system delays], and factors relating to these delays. The sample included 250 eligible and consenting newly diagnosed smear-positive pulmonary tuberculosis patients who were interviewed at the time of their registration within Diagnosis of Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases Reference Centers [CDTMR] or Integrated Health Centers [CSI] using a pretested and structured questionnaire. The median total delay was 46 days [inter-quartile interval [IQI]= 29-84 days]. Patient delay [median = 20; IQI = 8-47 days] was higher than health system delay [median-15; IIQ = 7-35 days]. Being illiterate, thinking symptoms will disappear by themselves; having financial constraints and feeling fear of diagnosis or social isolation were associated with patient delay. Consulting first in the private sector or having 3 or more consultations before diagnosis was associated with health system delay

Nous avons conduit en 2012 une étude transversale dans une sélection de 12 provinces/préfectures au Maroc pour déterminer les délais de consultation [délai patient], de diagnostic et de mise sous traitement [délai système de santé]chez les nouveaux cas de tuberculose pulmonaire à microscopie positive et les facteurs en relation avec ces délais. L’échantillon comprenait 250 patients, éligibles et consentants, qui ont été interviewés lors de leur enregistrement aux Centres de Diagnostic de la Tuberculose et des Maladies Respiratoires [CDTMR] ou aux Centres de Santé Intégrés [CSI], en utilisant un questionnaire structuré et prétesté. Le délai total médian est de 46 jours [intervalle interquartile [IIQ]: 29-84 jours]. Le délai patient [médiane : 20 jours ; IIQ : 8-47] est supérieur au délai système de santé [médiane : 15 jours ; IIQ : 7-35]. Etre analphabète, croire à la disparition spontanée des symptômes, avoir des contraintes économiques ou peur du diagnostic et de l’isolement social sont associés au délai patient. Consulter en premier dans le secteur privé ou faire trois consultations au moins avant le diagnostic sont associés au délai système de santé

Preparedness and health risks associated with Moulay Abdellah Amghar moussem, Morocco, 2009-2010.

The objective of this study was to describe the risks and human health outcomes associated with attendance at the Moulay Abdellah Amghar moussem (a pre-planned mass gathering attracting more than 360 000 participants) for the purposes of public health prevention, planning, preparedness and response. We performed an environmental health risk assessment and retrospectively reviewed local health centre records before, during and after the event. In addition, standardized interviews with key stakeholders were performed to qualitatively evaluate local public health preparedness and response capacities. During the event, average daily health centre visits increased 5-fold. The sex ratio of health-care visits changed significantly from an average of 1.8:1 female:male visits per day to 1.2:1. The proportion of injuries varied from an average of 3.7% pre- and post-event to 14.8% (P < 0.01) during the event. A significant increase in digestive diseases was also observed during the event. Recommendations include increasing accessibility to free sanitation and hygiene facilities and improving health communications concerning hand washing and food and water safety.