Patient predictors of health-seeking behaviour for persons coughing for more than two weeks in high-burden tuberculosis communities: The case of the Western Cape, South Africa

Abstract

This study aimed to analyse the patient predictors of health-seeking behaviour for persons coughing for more than 2 weeks to better understand this vulnerable and important population.The study analysed data from a cohort study (SOCS - Secondary Outcome Cohort Study) embedded in a community randomised trial ZAMSTAR (Zambia and South Africa TB and AIDS Reduction Study) in eight high-burden TB communities in the Western Cape, South Africa. These datasets are unique as they contain TB-related data as well as data on health, health-seeking behaviour, lifestyle choices, employment, socio-economic status, education and stigma. We use uni- and multivariate logistic regressions to estimate the odds ratios of consulting for a cough (of more than 2 weeks duration) for a range of relevant patient predictors.

Description

Keywords

Presumptive TB, Chronic cough, Delayed health seeking behaviour, Consulting

Citation

Christian, C. (2019). Patient predictors of health-seeking behaviour for persons coughing for more than two weeks in high-burden tuberculosis communities: The case of the Western Cape, South Africa. BMC Health Services Research, 19,160