Publication: Gender difference in treatment seeking behaviors of tuberculosis cases in rural communities of Bangladesh
Issued Date
2004-03-01
Resource Type
ISSN
01251562
Other identifier(s)
2-s2.0-3042717707
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Mahidol University
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SCOPUS
Bibliographic Citation
Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health. Vol.35, No.1 (2004), 126-135
Suggested Citation
Giasuddin Ahsan, Jalaluddin Ahmed, Pratap Singhasivanon, Jaranit Kaewkungwal, Kamolnetr Okanurak, Nawarat Suwannapong, Pasakorn Akarasewi, Mohammad A. Majid, Vikarunessa Begum, Kazi Belayetali Gender difference in treatment seeking behaviors of tuberculosis cases in rural communities of Bangladesh. Southeast Asian Journal of Tropical Medicine and Public Health. Vol.35, No.1 (2004), 126-135. Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/21722
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Title
Gender difference in treatment seeking behaviors of tuberculosis cases in rural communities of Bangladesh
Abstract
This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate gender differences in the epidemiological factors associated with the treatment seeking behaviors of TB cases in the rural communities of Bangladesh. The study reveals that there is significant gender difference in treatment seeking behaviors of rural TB cases and the majority of them (52%) have taken prior treatment from various traditional healers, 70% of them are females who attended health centers (UZHCs) as the other choice (adjusted OR:4.2, 95% CI:2.0-8.4). It was found that the mean patient delay was 63 days (range 14-210 days) where half of the females delayed more than 60 days while they were spreading their disease. The study findings reveal gender differences in treatment seeking behaviors associated with socio-cultural barriers, particularly among females in their access to TB care. Fifty-five percent of cases wanted the diagnosis of TB remain confidential to avoid being labeled as TB patients, where 82.7% were female, 85.6% of female TB patients had problems in their relationships with their spouse (61%) and family members (58%) after being diagnosed with TB. The results of the TB service factors found that 39% of females were not satisfied with their provider's behaviors, which was significantly associated with treatment seeking behavior (adjusted OR:2.6, 95% CI: 1.0-6.6). The study findings strongly suggest that there was a significant gender difference in treatment seeking behavior in rural Bangladesh. Based on the study findings, we recommend developing an appropriate gender strategy for developing a TB control program, comprised of operational, socio-cultural and community awareness interventions aimed at treating undiscovered reservoirs of female TB cases in rural Bangladesh.