Facilitators and barriers for completion of the diagnostic process among people with presumed tuberculosis in Central Uganda

The project consists of qualitative data from focus group discussions (FGDs), Key informant interviews (KIIs), and in-depth interviews (IDIs). All interviews were conducted by two trained qualitative researchers. We conducted 25 IDIs among patients identified with presumed TB in the study facilities. Participants were selected from the presumptive TB registers at each health facility by the research team supported by health workers. We included patients who were aged 18 years and above and were presumed for TB in the past one month. Six FGDs were also conducted with TB patients aged 18 years and above who had been on treatment for one month to understand their experiences as they went through the diagnostic process after being identified with presumed TB. In addition, 20 KIIs with TB focal persons, heads of outpatients’ departments (OPD), HIV/ART clinics, in-patient departments, laboratories and TB community linkage officers were conducted. The KIIs were selected purposively based on those who often interact and offer services to patients with presumed TB and those diagnosed in each study facility.