Patient predictors of health-seeking behaviour for persons coughing for more than two weeks in high-burden tuberculosis communities: The case of the Western Cape, South Africa
Abstract
This study aimed to analyse the patient predictors of health-seeking behaviour for persons coughing
for more than 2 weeks to better understand this vulnerable and important population.The study analysed data from a cohort study (SOCS - Secondary Outcome Cohort Study) embedded in a
community randomised trial ZAMSTAR (Zambia and South Africa TB and AIDS Reduction Study) in eight high-burden
TB communities in the Western Cape, South Africa. These datasets are unique as they contain TB-related data as well as
data on health, health-seeking behaviour, lifestyle choices, employment, socio-economic status, education and stigma.
We use uni- and multivariate logistic regressions to estimate the odds ratios of consulting for a cough (of more than 2
weeks duration) for a range of relevant patient predictors.