Rates and timeliness of treatment initiation among drug-resistant tuberculosis patients in Nigeria- A retrospective cohort study.

BackgroundThere were an estimated 580,000 new cases of multidrug/rifampicin resistant TB (DR-TB) in 2015, and only 20% were initiated on treatment. This study explored health system and patient factors associated with initiation and timeliness of treatment among DR-TB patients in Nigeria, ranked 4th globally for estimated TB cases in 2015.MethodsA retrospective cohort study using 2015 diagnosis and treatment data from the Nigerian TB program electronic records examined "treatment ever received" (yes/no) and "treatment within 30 days" (yes/no). We compared health system and patient characteristics using binomial logistic regression, while controlling for confounders.ResultsOf 996 patients diagnosed nationwide in 2015 (aged 0-87 years, median 34), 47.8% were never treated. Of those treated (n = 520), 51.2% were treated within the 30 days prescribed in the National treatment guideline. Healthcare facility locations were significantly associated with ever receiving treatment and timely treatment. Predictors of timely treatment at the national level also included level of care and patient treatment history. The South-West zone, where DR-TB programs started, showed overall better access to DR-TB healthcare.ConclusionsHealthcare facility geographic locations were significantly associated with treatment initiation and timeliness. Significant regional differences in access to DR-TB care in Nigeria persist, reflecting uneven contexts for national DR-TB treatment rollout