Understanding delayed diagnosis and treatment of TB in Semarang, Indonesia [TBN 080]

Who

TB patients aged >15 years, residing in Semarang, Indonesia, already recorded as TB patients, and consenting to participate. Three extrapulmonary TB patients were excluded. Mean age was 41 years; 53.1% were female; 85% had primary–high school education; more than half had income below Semarang minimum income standard.

What

The study explored health-seeking behaviors and factors associated with diagnostic delay among TB patients. Diagnostic delay occurred in 48% of participants. Median delay was 19 days, ranging from 3 to 115 days. Almost half were diagnosed on their third care-seeking visit, and only 14.6% were diagnosed at the first health service visited. Self-treatment was common, including pharmacy use, home remedies, local drug stores, and traditional medicine.

Education level was significantly associated with delay (p = 0.014), as were poor attitudes toward TB (p = 0.027). Beliefs that TB is hereditary (p < 0.001), traditional medicine is more effective (p = 0.003), and prolonged cough is not concerning if daily activities continue (p = 0.033) were linked to delay. Multivariable results were incompletely provided, but higher education was reported with AOR = 0.348; 95% CI: 0.127–0.951; p = 0.042, though the wording appears internally inconsistent.

When

Data collection was conducted in 2022.

Where

Semarang, Central Java Province, Indonesia. Ten primary healthcare services with the highest TB incidence were purposively selected.

Why

The study addressed a knowledge gap regarding TB patients’ health-seeking behaviors and contributors to diagnostic delay in Semarang.

How

Cross-sectional study. Data were collected by trained enumerators using questionnaires at participants’ residences. Questionnaire reliability was tested among 30 patients before implementation, with acceptable to good reliability across knowledge, attitudes, beliefs, health staff support, and family support scales.

Source: Handayani S, Isworo S, Hinchcliff R, Wahyudi F, Aryani L, Triyono A. Understanding delayed diagnosis and treatment of tuberculosis: a cross-sectional study in Semarang, Indonesia. The Journal of Infection in Developing Countries. 2026 Jan 31;20(01):104-10.

Most patients with TB at Medan Pulmonary Specialty Hospital had low medication adherence [TBN079]

A study was conducted from April to May 2024 at Medan Pulmonary Specialty Hospital, North Sumatra. The study population consisted of patients with pulmonary tuberculosis receiving treatment at the DOTS Clinic. A total of 95 respondents were selected using purposive sampling. Data were collected using a medication adherence questionnaire, namely the Morisky Medication Adherence Scale-8 (MMAS-8).

Among the 95 respondents, the largest age group was 46–55 years, with 27 respondents (28.4%), while the smallest age group was >65 years, with 2 respondents (2.1%). There were 54 male respondents (56.8%) and 41 female respondents (43.2%). The most common occupation was self-employed, with 42 respondents (44.2%), while the least common was police/military, with 1 respondent (1.1%). The most common education level was senior high school/vocational high school, with 44 respondents (46.3%), while the least common was no formal education, with 2 respondents (2.1%).

Medication adherence was most commonly categorized as low, reported in 59 respondents (62.1%). Moderate adherence was reported in 21 respondents (22.1%), while high adherence was the least common category, reported in 15 respondents (15.8%).

Based on the findings, most patients with pulmonary tuberculosis at Medan Pulmonary Specialty Hospital had low medication adherence.

Source: Ginting AA, Pakpahan RE, Zebua SE. Gambaran Kepatuhan Minum Obat Penderita Tuberkulosis Paru Di Rumah Sakit Khusus Paru Medan Sumatera Utara. INNOVATIVE: Journal Of Social Science Research. 2024 Oct 17;4(5):7819-33.