Delay for First Consultation and Associated Factors among Tuberculosis Patients in Bahir Dar Town Administration, North West Ethiopia

Background: Delayed presentation for first consultation is a major problem contributing to the high burden and transmission of tuberculosis in most developing countries including Ethiopia. There is paucity of evidence on the magnitude of patient delay and why patients fail to seek care in health institution early in Bahirdar town administration area. Objective: To determine the delay for first consultation and its associated factors among tuberculosis patients in Bahir Dar town health facilities. Methods: A facility based cross-sectional study was conducted from 10 March – 08 May 2012 in Bahirdar town administration health facility. For quantitative part a total of 315 study participants were included. For qualitative part, eighteen study participants of family members were participated. Data were collected from newly diagnosed TB patients. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 16 window. Multivariate logistic regression analysis was used to identify factors associated with patient delay. Result: The magnitude of patient delay was 165(52.4%) and median of patient delay was 30 days within range of 3 to 270 days. Illiterate (AOR=6.18,95% CI:1.34, 28.43), extra pulmonary tuberculosis (AOR=10.12, 95% CI:3.07, 33.37), living greater than a distance of 10 km from TB service in health facilities (AOR=3.55,95%CI:1.17,10.80), prior visited ,with holy water (AOR=10.55, 95% CI:3.99, 27.89) ,with traditional healer (AOR=4.29, 95% CI:1.13, 16.37 and with private drug store/pharmacy (AOR=6.81, 95% CI:2.47,18.78) were determinants of patients delay for first consultation in health facilities. Conclusion: The magnitude of patient delay was generally higher than most African and other developing countries. More than half, 54.6% of tuberculosis patients delayed seeking health care at health facility while getting treatment from informal sources of treatment. Health promotion and education involving different stake holders will make the community to create awareness about tuberculosis could help reduce delays in starting modern treatment was recommended.