Factors Affecting Delay in Receiving Medical Treatment among Patients with Leptospirosis in Sisaket Province
Aree Butsorn PhD*
Affiliation : * College of Medicine and Public Health, Ubon Ratchathani University, Ubon Ratchathani, Thailand
Background : Leptospirosis is a significant public health problem in Sisaket Province. According to the epidemiological data,
it reveals that there is a gradual increase in the number of patients with leptospirosis not receiving medical treatment in time.
Objective : To investigate factors affecting delay in receiving medical treatment in patients with leptospirosis in Sisaket
Province.
Research design: Retrospective analytic study (Matched Case-control study).
Material and Method: Cases were 157 leptospirosis patients at Sisaket Hospital with delay in receiving medical treatment,
controls were 157 leptospirosis patients without delay in receiving medical treatment at the same hospital, individually
matched by occupation, and age. Data were collected from January to December 2015 by means of questionnaires and
medical record. The data were statistically multiple logistic regression analysis was used to analyze influential factors. Values
of relations were presented in adjusted odds ratios at 95% confidence interval.
Results : The study of factors affecting delay in receiving medical treatment among leptospirosis patients in Sisaket Province
with a statistical significance level at 0.05 showed that the likelihood of delay in receiving treatment was 2.40 times higher
among leptospirosis patients seeking treatment 3 or more times compared to those seeking treatment less than 3 times (ORadj
= 2.40: 95% CI = 1.61-3.37). The likelihood of delay in receiving treatment was 1.8 times higher among leptospirosis
patients than with the low level knowledge of leptospirosis compared to those with the high level knowledge of leptospirosis
(ORadj = 1.81: 95% CI = 1.22-3.37). The likelihood of delay in receiving medical treatment was 1.67 times higher among
leptospirosis patients with low levels of social support compared to those with high levels of social support (ORadj = 1.67:
95% CI = 1.20-3.88). In addition, the likelihood of delay in receiving medical treatment was 1.46 times higher among
leptospirosis patients who bought medicines for self-medication compared to those who received medical treatment in
government health service facilities when having initial symptoms (ORadj = 1.46: 95% CI = 1.02-3.97).
Conclusion : Factors affecting delay in receiving medical treatment among leptospirosis patients in Sisaket Province were the
number of times of seeking treatment, knowledge of leptospirosis, no social support, buying medicines for self-medication to
treat initial symptoms, and solving problems of delay in receiving medical treatment among leptospirosis patients. Therefore,
importance of the a forementioned factors should be more emphasized by surveillance and raising awareness.
Keywords : Factors, Delay, Leptospirosis, Sisaket province
