Implications of pre-diagnosis costs incurred by patients and their families for tuberculosis-related health-seeking behaviors in Mbeya and Songwe regions, Tanzania
This study highlights the significant financial and non-financial barriers faces by patients diagnosed with PTB and their families before diagnosis. Delays in care-seeking not only worsen health outcomes but also increase the overall economic burden. Addressing these challenges requires a comprehensive, multisectoral approach to improve early diagnosis, reduce patients costs and strengthen TB control efforts in high-burden settings.
Authors
- Simeon Mwanyonga
- Aneesa Moolla (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1233-680X)
- Kamban Hirasen (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9531-9230)
- Stella Kilima (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6792-0990)
- Issa Sabi (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1777-6572)
- Nyanda Elias Ntinginya (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1575-4521)
- Denise Evans (ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0698-1228)
- Godfrey M. Mubyazi
Institutions
- University of the Witwatersrand (ZA)
- The Independent Institute of Education (ZA)
- National Institute for Medical Research (TZ)
Publication Details
- Journal
- PLoS ONE
- Published
- 2025-11-21
- DOI
- https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0336270
- Primary Topic
- Tuberculosis Research and Epidemiology
- Type
- article
- Field-Weighted Citation Impact
- 0.00