Abstract:
Background: Tuberculosis is among the leading causes of mortality and morbidity in Ethiopia.
Ethiopia ranked seventh among countries with highest Tuberculosis burden in the world. Delayed
presentation and low treatment seeking behavior are the major problem contributing to the high
burden and transmission of tuberculosis in most developing countries. Delay between the onsets of
Tuberculosis symptoms, patients’ first visit to health center, and diagnosis and treatment persist
and contribute to prolonged spread of the tuberculosis Bacilli in the community.
Objective: The objective of this study is to determine the behavioral intention of treatment seeking
from health facility by tuberculosis Suspect Adults in Sibu Sire district, East Wollega Zone.
Method: A community based cross-sectional study design, supplemented with qualitative study
was conducted on to identify Predictors of treatment seeking intention among Tuberculosis
Suspect adults in Sibu Sire district East Wollega Zone. The theory of planned behavior was used as
a conceptual framework for the study. A simple random sampling technique was used to select
kebeles (clusters) from Sibu Sire district. Eighteen kebeles (clusters) were included in the study,
from these 18 kebeles (clusters) a total of 763 Tuberculosis suspect adults were interviewed for
quantitative study and fourteen Health care providers who were work on directly observed
treatment short course program at a health center as well as at health post were used for in-depth
interview. The data were conducted by trained individuals who could speak and write Afan Oromo
and supervised by principal investigator and other trained supervisors. The data were collected by
face-to-face interviews technique using a structured questionnaire containing closed-ended
questions and analysis was done using SPSS for windows program version 16.0.The aim of
including qualitative data with quantitative study is for triangulation of the finding. Step wise
regressions analysis was used to identify important predictors of treatment seeking intention.
Thematic analysis was used to analyze qualitative data.
Results: There were 763 study participants which give response rate of 90.4%. Respondents’ place
of residence, family monthly income, current smokers and knowledge on TB were found to have
significant relationship and association with TB treatment seeking intention. Besides, respondents’
external variables explained 29.5% of the variability in TB treatment seeking intention. The
potential direct predictors of TPB; attitude, subjective norm and perceived behavioural control,
behavioral beliefs and control beliefs together explained 28.4% of the variability of treatment
seeking intention, of which the highest share was due to attitude,17%.Generally, the TPB variables
jointly with external variables explained 57.9% of the variability of treatment seeking intention
among TB suspected individuals
