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Abstract

Abstract


Objective:To determine the health care seeking behavior of TB patients in seeking care and health care providers for delivering care.
Design:Cross sectional descriptive survey. The interviewers administered a standardized open-ended questionnaire after training and pre-testing.
Setting:Federal Government TB Center, Rawalpindi. (specialized TB clinic).
Subject:One hundred and sixty newly registered TB patients at TB Center, Rawalpindi between 20 November to 21 December 1998.
Results: Prior to their consulting TB Center, 96% patients had already reported to a health care provider, i.e., to first, second or third health care providers. Of 154 patients, 48 were diagnosed as TB and only 29 (19%) of them received antituberculosis treatment. Most of the patients 118 (77%) consulted the health care provider within three weeks time.
Conclusion:Delay is more on part of health care providers than on patients. Proper implementation of collaboration and continuing education of health care guidelines of TB program with public-private sector providers is necessary ØPMA 51:10; 2001).