Gender Differences in Factors Associated with the Total Delay in Treatment of Pulmonary Tuberculosis Patients

A Cross-Sectional Study in Selangor, Malaysia

Bibliographic Data

ID15460735
AuthorsChee Cheong Kee (0000-0003-1372-9549, Ministry of Health, corresponding author), Sumarni Mohd Ghazali (0000-0001-5230-9569, Ministry of Health), Ahmed Syahmi Syafiq Md Zamri (0000-0002-3286-5493, Ministry of Health), Yoon Ling Cheong (0000-0002-2786-7195, Ministry of Health), Nuur Hafizah Md Iderus (0000-0002-3178-2549, Ministry of Health), Tharmarajah Nagalingam (0000-0001-8063-9610, Ministry of Health), Qistina Ruslan (Ministry of Health), Mohd Azahadi Omar (0000-0002-5171-851X, Ministry of Health), Ahmad Faudzi Yusoff (Ministry of Health)
Year2022
Volume19
Issue10
Pages6258-6258
Publication date2022-05-21
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph19106258
PMID35627796
OpenAlexW4281263063
LanguageEN
Citations received3
References cited27

Background : Gender plays a significant role in health-care-seeking behavior for many diseases. Delays in seeking treatment, diagnosis, and treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis (pTB) may increase the risk of transmission in the community and lead to poorer treatment outcomes and mortality. This study explores the differences in factors associated with the total delay in treatment of male and female pTB patients in Selangor, Malaysia. Methods : A cross-sectional study was conducted from January 2017 to December 2017. Newly diagnosed pTB patients (≥18 years) were recruited from selected government health clinics and hospitals in Selangor during the specified study period. An interviewer-administered questionnaire was used to collect information on sociodemographic characteristics, lifestyle, knowledge about pTB, stigma, distance to the nearest health facility, and chronology of pTB symptom onset, diagnosis, and treatment. The total delay was measured as the length of time between the onset of pTB symptoms to treatment initiation. Factors significantly associated with a longer total delay among men and women were identified using binary logistic regression. Results : A total of 732 patients (61.5% men, 38.5% women) were enrolled in the study. The median total delay was 60 days. Men who have weight loss as a symptom (AOR: 1.63, 95%CI: 1.10-2.41) and are employed (1.89, 1.15-3.11) were more likely to have a longer total delay, while those who know others who have had pTB (0.64, 0.43-0.96) were less likely to have a longer total delay. On the other hand, among women, having a stigma towards TB (0.52, 0.32-0.84) and obtaining a pTB diagnosis at the first medical consultation (0.48, 0.29-0.79) were associated with a shorter total delay. Conclusion : Factors associated with the total delay in pTB treatment were different for male and female pTB patients. Increasing awareness of pTB symptoms and the importance of seeking early medical consultation and a prompt diagnosis among the general public may reduce total delay in pTB treatment

Cross-sectional study · Health care · Logistic regression · Pulmonary tuberculosis · Tuberculosis · Demography · Gender, Education, and Development Issues · Medicine · Sex and Gender in Healthcare · Internal Medicine · Pediatrics