Influencing factors for delay of pulmonary tuberculosis case finding in students in Jiaxing, Zhejiang, 2010–2019

  Objective  To investigate the delay of pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) case finding in students in Jiaxing, Zhejiang province, and the influencing factors, and provide data support for health decision-making.

  Methods  The information of pulmonary TB cases in students in child care settings, primary schools, junior high schools, senior high schools and colleges were collected form National Tuberculosis Information System for statistical analysis. The risk factors for the pulmonary TB case finding delay were analyzed by χ² test and multivariate Logistic regression model.

  Results  A total of 443 pulmonary TB cases were reported in students. The cases in boys accounted for 60.05% and the cases in college students accounted for 34.09%. In the reported pulmonary TB cases, 55.40% had negative etiological test results. The median delay days of pulmonary TB case finding in students was 16 days and the proportion of the cases with delayed finding was 30.70%. The risk factors of diagnostic delay were medical care seeking due to illness, referral, cavity, being etiological positive and severe pulmonary TB.

  Conclusion  It is necessary to promote the active pulmonary TB case finding at school entrance and take systematic intervention measures to reduce pulmonary TB case finding delay in schools.