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Pulmonary tuberculosis and health‐seeking behaviour: how to get a delayed diagnosis in Cali, Colombia
Author(s) -
Jaramillo Ernesto
Publication year - 1998
Publication title -
tropical medicine and international health
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.056
H-Index - 114
eISSN - 1365-3156
pISSN - 1360-2276
DOI - 10.1046/j.1365-3156.1998.00202.x
Subject(s) - medicine , tuberculosis , developing country , stigma (botany) , health care , social stigma , disease , family medicine , intensive care medicine , human immunodeficiency virus (hiv) , psychiatry , pathology , economic growth , economics
Tuberculosis is a heavy burden in the developing countries. Early diagnosis and adherence to treatment are difficult to achieve by patients. Our qualitative research looked at the paths followed and the barriers experienced by patients at the health care services of Cali, Colombia, while seeking help for pulmonary tuberculosis symptoms. Results show that the cultural-based explanation patients give to the symptoms, the stigma attached to the disease, and the poor quality of health care services (communication skills, organizational structure, attitudes, and knowledge of the tuberculosis control strategy of health care workers) are strong barriers to early diagnosis.