A STUDY OF ASSOCIATION OF GENDER WITH DELAY IN DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT INITIATION IN PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS.

Dr.Shraddha Bhondve

Volume : VI, Issue : III, March - 2017

A STUDY OF ASSOCIATION OF GENDER WITH DELAY IN DIAGNOSIS & TREATMENT INITIATION IN PULMONARY TUBERCULOSIS.

Dr. Shraddha Bhondve

Abstract :

The objectives of the study were to find the magnitude of delay in diagnosis and treatment initiation in Pulmonary Tuberculosis (TB) patients registered under RNTCP (Revised National Tuberculosis Control Programme) and to assess gender differences in these delay. For this we did an interview and record based institutional cross sectional observational study in Maharashtra for 6 months duration which included 393 new cases of pulmonary TB patients registered under RNTCP for treatment. We found out that contribution to total delay made by patients delay (48%) and diagnostic delay (45%) is almost equal. The delay was twice in males as compared to females at both patient level and diagnosis level.