| dc.description.abstract | Background: Tuberculosis(TB) remains a public health problem worldwide (WHO, 2017a).
World Health Organization’s End TB Strategy advocates for early diagnosis of tuberculosis with
a target of being able to detect over 90% of all new cases of TB by 2035 for ending TB disease
(WHO, 2015). The Uganda’s Ministry of Health has put a lot of emphasis on early diagnosis and
early initiation of treatment as well as ensuring that treatment for tuberculosis is available free of
charge. Despite the ministry’s efforts, informal review of cases of pulmonary tuberculosis
managed at Bundibugyo hospital in 2015 showed that about 2 in 5 cases were diagnosed late
with the disease (Bundibugyo Hospital, 2016). Hence this study sought to assess factors affecting
early diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis among adult patients who were undergoing treatment
at Bundibugyo hospital from July to September 2017.
Objectives: The study aimed to assess factors affecting early diagnosis of pulmonary
tuberculosis(PTB) among adult patients who were on treatment at Bundibugyo hospital.
Methods: This study adopted a cross sectional analytical study design. The study was carried out
at Bundibugyo hospital. Consecutive sampling was used to select 152 patients with PTB who
participated in this study. Only primary data were collected using questionnaire. The
questionnaires had both open and closed ended questions. The questionnaires were pre-tested
and adjusted before data collections. Data analyses were done using SPSS software.
Results: Only 3 (2%) of the 152 patients managed at Bundibugyo hospital for pulmonary
tuberculosis were diagnosed with the disease early. Most patients (98%) had delayed diagnosis
of pulmonary tuberculosis. Age of patients (X 2 = 17.723, P= 0.001) and their marital status (X 2 =
13.365, P= 0.010) were the only socio-demographic factors associated with diagnosis of
pulmonary tuberculosis. Visiting a private clinic (X 2 = 5.101, P= 0.024) before treatment was the
only personal factor associated with early diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis.
Conclusions: The proportion of patients who were diagnosed early with pulmonary tuberculosis
in Bundibugyo hospital was found to be very low. Age of patients and their marital status were
the only socio-demographic factors associated with diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. A
patient visiting a private clinic for first consultations was the only personal factor associated with
early diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis.
Recommendations: The unit should intensify health education about early diagnosis of
tuberculosis in all out-patients points of care within the hospital. The hospital should ensure that
all its care providers are actively involved in sensitizing patients under their care about need for
early diagnosis and treatment in case of infection with pulmonary tuberculosis. The Ministry of
Health should also strengthen the public private partnership for health to improve early diagnosis
of pulmonary tuberculosis since this study has shown that visiting private clinics first is
associated with delayed diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis. | en_US |
