Abstract

Introduction: Delayed diagnosis/initiation of treatment of TBP is associated with increased community transmission and lethality. This study evaluated the delay time and factors associated with TB diagnosis/treatment in adults in municipal health centers in Arica, Chile. Material and methods: Retrospective cohort of 81 patients with TBP (smear and/or culture positive) seen in the period 01.01.2014 and 31.12.2015. Data were collected by vis a vis survey and record review. Cox proportional hazards model was used to evaluate the effect of predictor variables on delay days. The project was approved by the ethics committee of the Universidad de Tarapacá.” Results: The median of days of total delay was 59 (IQR 33-95), the median attributed to the patient was 21 (IQR 8-66) and the median attributed to the health services was 10 (IQR 3-36). Factors associated with patient delay were education, TB contact, and smoking. Being female, alcohol and drug use, more than one visit, and occupation were associated with health service delay. Education was associated with total delay. Conclusions: It is important to raise awareness of contact tracing, signs and symptoms of TB and early care seeking, as well as strengthen care provider capacity to increase case identification suspicion, address disease bias and stigma