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. 2025 Jul 17:13:20503121251353436.
doi: 10.1177/20503121251353436. eCollection 2025.

Family dynamics and diagnostic delay among pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Ile-Ife, South-Western Nigeria

Ayanleye Ahmed Abdulakeem  1 , Oloyede Oyegbade Olanrewaju  1 , Olurotimi Ogundokun Akinjide  1 , Fehintola Awopeju Olayemi  2 , Sebutu Bello Ibrahim  1   3 , Anu Olowookere Samuel  1   4 , Oluwafemi Olajubu Temitope  1 , Olalekan Ismail Waheed  1 , Kolawole Adewumi Muideen  1 , Omowonuola Sonibare Olubukola  3 , Oladeji Gbadamosi Moroof  5 , Oyemomi Ibrahim Azeez  6
Affiliations

Family dynamics and diagnostic delay among pulmonary tuberculosis patients in Ile-Ife, South-Western Nigeria

Ayanleye Ahmed Abdulakeem et al. SAGE Open Med. .

Abstract

Background: Despite the availability of directly observed treatment short-course, which provides free treatment to patients with tuberculosis, leading to some progress, Nigeria still faces a slow decline in tuberculosis incidence and low case detection. The delay in diagnosis of pulmonary tuberculosis, regarding access to healthcare, has made extensive efforts towards its control and elimination appear unrewarding. This study aimed to assess the relationship between family dynamics and diagnostic delay among patients with pulmonary tuberculosis receiving care in the directly observed treatment short-course centres in Ile-Ife, Nigeria.

Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study of 282 patients on treatment for pulmonary tuberculosis in the directly observed treatment short-course centres in Ile-Ife was conducted. The respondents were recruited using a multistage sampling technique. Data were collected using an interviewer-administered World Health Organization-validated questionnaire on case-finding in tuberculosis patients, the Perceived Social Support Family Scale, and the family adaptability, partnership, growth, affection, and resolve (APGAR) score. Multiple logistic regression was done to determine the family dynamics variables that independently predict diagnostic delay. A p < 0.05 was taken as statistically significant.

Results: The family dynamics of the respondents showed that 68.1% of them had strong family support, with about two-thirds (69.1%) having functional families. The median diagnostic delay before diagnosis was 45 days (range 9-217 days). Having a dysfunctional family (Adjusted Odd Ratio (AOR), 3.87; 95% confidence interval, 1.704-8.777, p = 0.001), monthly family income <₦30,000 (US$56.07; AOR, 2.96; 95% confidence interval, 1.358-6.453, p = 0.006), and family size larger than 6 (AOR, 2.223; 95% confidence interval, 1.212-4.076, p = 0.010) were significant predictors of prolonged diagnostic delay.

Conclusion: Family factors predicting diagnostic delay were large family size, low family income, and family dysfunction. There is a need to increase tuberculosis diagnostic access to families with these characteristics.

Keywords: delay; diagnostic delay; family dynamics; pulmonary tuberculosis.

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Conflict of interest statement

The author(s) declared no potential conflicts of interest with respect to the research, authorship, and/or publication of this article.

Figures

Flow diagram depicts patient inclusion criteria progression for a study, with registration details and exclusion based on medical condition and consent status.
Figure 1.
A flow chart showing the study protocol.
This pie chart shows the proportion of diagnoses with and without prolonged delays among respondents, with 50.4% experiencing no delay and a nearly equal but slightly fewer proportion (49.6%) with delays.
Figure 2.
Distribution of diagnostic delay among the study respondents.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

References

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