An exploration of factors contributing to patient delay in seeking Tuberculosis care services in the Hhohho region of Eswatini

Abstract

Tuberculosis (TB) is one of the top twenty leading causes of death globally and it is the second leading cause of mortality from a single infectious cause after COVID-19 but ahead of HIV/AIDS. In 2020, TB was responsible for ten million disease burden and an estimated 1.5 million deaths world-wide. Africa and South-East Asia account for almost 70% of the global TB burden but HIV/AIDS remains the biggest driver of TB morbidity and mortality in sub-Saharan Africa. To effectively manage and control TB, public health interventions in areas of high TB prevalence like Eswatini, need to aim at efficiently providing quality TB care services and to improve the treatment-seeking behaviour of the community.