Patient’s delay in seeking care at health care facility among pulmonary tuberculosis patient in Pursat Province, Cambodia

Abstract

        A cross-sectional study aimed to study the patient's delay in seeking care at health care facilities among pulmonary tuberculosis patients living in Pursat Province, Cambodia, within the period of January 01-31, 2009. A sample of 179 - purposively selected respondents was interviewed by using structured questionnaires.
        The findings showed that the patients who delayed were 48.05 percent and mean delay were 7.04 weeks with standard deviation of 6.11. The significant association factors with patient's delay were: knowledge, perception, availability, accessibility, and source of information about tuberculosis and treatment.
        The results of this investigation yielded several recommendations among which were the need for expanded TB-DOTS services to a peripheral level, increase TB awareness among the general population through provision of health education and health promotion to communities especially at risk, and increase
collaboration with partners and private sector.