Table 4 Comparison of themes emerged from qualitative interviews between people with shorter delays and people with longer delays to TB diagnosis

Barriers to TB care-seeking

Lack of perceived risk and susceptibility to TB

Lack of perceived threat of TB to their own health

Sought private health care/self-medicated prior to TB diagnosis

Unable to travel to health facilities due to intolerable symptoms or logistical constraints

Competing priorities – work, livelihood, and family responsibilities

Facilitators to TB care-seeking

Encouragement from family members, and other TB survivors

Fear of infecting others

Intolerable symptoms

Easy access to TB diagnosis provided by non-governmental organizations

Perceived illness would affect health, wellbeing, work, and livelihood

Reasons for seeking private healthcare/self-medicate

Better access (facilities are closer to home)

Perceived illness to be less serious

Perceived to provide better care and service, and the medicines are more effective

Reasons for seeking public healthcare

Financially affordable

Perceived to provide better and safer care

Experienced good service in the past

TB stigma

Felt ashamed/embarrassed because of TB

Perceived stigma and discrimination against people with TB