Delayed Tuberculosis Treatment in Somaliland

In Somaliland,TB annual incidence is 324/100,000, but 86% delay treatment. Despite high rate of delayed TB treatment, factors responsible were not known. Guided by the Health Belief Model, this study investigated the factors through a cross-sectional survey design on a random sample of 108 TB patients, in Borama TB Hospital from March-April 2014. Data was analyzed using chi-square goodness of fit. The study established that sociocultural factors - ?2 (3, N = 108) = 121.704, p =.000, Ф =.102; TB awareness - ?2 (1, N = 108) = 23.148, p =.000, Ф =.462; and accessibility to TB treatment - ?2 (4, N = 108) = 60.051, p =.000, Ф = .745 significantly influence delayed treatment among TB patients in Borama District. But socioeconomic factors do not have a significant influence on delayed TB treatment - ?2 (2, N = 108) = .109, p =.000, Ф =.032. The study concluded that accessibility to TB treatment is the major cause of delayed treatment of TB in Borama District. The study recommends that all...