Predictors of healthcare seeking for tuberculosis symptoms in the private healthcare facilities: findings from a cross-sectional population-based survey in Tamil Nadu

OBJECTIVES: To identify the factors influencing the choice of private healthcare facilities among individuals experiencing tuberculosis (TB) symptoms. DESIGN: Cross-sectional study. SETTING: The data for this study were obtained from a cross-sectional population-based TB prevalence survey conducted in 33 districts of Tamil Nadu, a state in southern India, between February 2021 to July 2022. PARTICIPANTS: 130 932 individuals, 15 years and above, residents of the selected cluster for the past 1 month, were included. Hospitalised patients, sick/morbid individuals and the institutional population were excluded. RESULTS: Of 143 005 eligible individuals, 130 932 (91.6%) participated. Among them, 9540 individuals were found to have at least one TB symptom. Of these symptomatic individuals, 2678 sought healthcare, with 62.7% in the public facilities and 37.3% in private facilities. Factors associated with seeking care in the private healthcare facilities included working in organised sector (aOR: 1.3; 95% CI 1.0 to 1.7; p