Delays Affecting Outcome of Tuberculosis Patients: A Quantitative Survey in a Backward District of West Bengal, India

Abstract

Background: Delay in diagnosis and treatment of TB patients increases infectivity of disease in community,

more complications and higher risk of death. Objectives: To assess magnitude of different types of delay in

diagnosis and treatment of TB and to find out its association with treatment outcome. Methods: A descriptive

cross-sectional study was conducted in Lokepur Tuberculosis Unit of Bankura, West Bengal from July

2016 to June 2017. Simple random sampling was adopted to select 50% of the DOTS centers under that

Tuberculosis Unit. Complete enumeration of adult TB patients receiving Cat I treatment and registered from

June to October 2016 was done from selected DOTS centers. Exit interview of the patients was conducted

using pretested predesigned questionnaire and treatment outcomes were recorded from TB register. Data

were entered in MS Excel spread sheet and analysed by SPSS 22.0 version. Results: Mean TB patient delay,

diagnostic delay and treatment delay were 19.53 days, 18.54 days, 5.17 days respectively. All types of delay

were significantly associated with unfavourable treatment outcome. Conclusion: Increasing knowledge of

first care giving person, monitoring and supportive supervision at all level of healthcare delivery are the

steps needed at this hour.