Table 1 Characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Malawi, 2011
Patient characteristics | N | (%) |
|---|---|---|
Total | 588 | (100.0) |
TB case type | ||
New | 460 | (78.2) |
Retreatment | 128 | (21.8) |
Sex | ||
Male | 388 | (66.0) |
Female | 200 | (34.0) |
Age at diagnosis (years) | ||
15 – 24 | 86 | (14.6) |
25 – 34 | 211 | (35.9) |
35 – 44 | 161 | (27.4) |
45 – 54 | 69 | (11.7) |
55 – 64 | 40 | (6.8) |
65 + | 21 | (3.6) |
Education | ||
No school | 82 | (13.9) |
Primary | 285 | (48.5) |
Secondary | 186 | (31.6) |
Tertiary | 35 | (6.0) |
Occupation | ||
Self-employed | 201 | (34.2) |
Employed | 132 | (22.4) |
Unemployed | 85 | (14.5) |
Farmer | 77 | (13.1) |
Housewife | 63 | (10.7) |
Student | 30 | (5.1) |
Average household monthly income (USD) | ||
≤ 30 | 105 | (17.9) |
> 30 ≤ 60 | 119 | (20.2) |
> 60 | 171 | (29.1) |
Unknown | 193 | (32.8) |
Distance to the nearest TB diagnostic facility | ||
0 – 10 Km | 364 | (61.9) |
11 – 20 Km | 99 | (16.8) |
>20 Km | 71 | (12.1) |
Unknown | 54 | (9.2) |
Heard of TB before diagnosis | ||
Yes | 396 | (67.3) |
No | 192 | (32.7) |
Knowledge of coughing > 3 weeks as a TB symptoma | ||
Yes | 268 | (71.8) |
No | 105 | (28.2) |
Health facility first visited | ||
Hospital | 345 | (58.7) |
Health centre | 133 | (22.6) |
Drug store | 52 | (8.8) |
Private clinic | 45 | (7.7) |
Traditional healer | 13 | (2.2) |
Sputum smear for acid-fast bacilli | ||
Negative | 58 | (9.9) |
Positive | 389 | (66.2) |
Unknown | 141 | (24.0) |
Chest x-ray on diagnosis | ||
Yes | 223 | (37.9) |
No | 365 | (62.1) |