Factors contributing to delayed TB diagnosis in Somalia - Poster

FACTORS CONTRIBUTING TO DELAYED TUBERCULOSIS DIAGNOSIS: POVERTY, MALNUTRITION, DISPLACEMENT, AND LOW AWARENESS AS KEY FACTORS DELAYING TB DIAGNOSIS IN SOMALIA

This poster was presented at the World Conference on Lung Health in Copenhagen, Denmark in November 2025.

World Vision Somalia, in partnership with the Ministry of Health and the Global Fund, conducted a national cross-sectional study in 2024 to identify the key factors delaying tuberculosis (TB) diagnosis. Among 961 TB patients surveyed across 36 treatment facilities, 77% experienced diagnostic delays longer than 14 days, with a median delay of 37 days – 30 attributed to patient delay and 7 to system delay.

The findings revealed deep structural vulnerabilities driving these delays: 64% of participants lived below the poverty line, 53% were undernourished, and 22% were internally displaced, facing longer delays than non-displaced patients. Only 39% were aware that TB treatment is free, underscoring a critical need for community education and stronger outreach.

The study highlights that poverty, undernutrition, displacement, and low awareness of available TB services remain major barriers to early diagnosis in Somalia’s fragile health context. Strengthening community awareness, addressing social determinants of health, and improving access to diagnostic services are essential to reducing delays and achieving national TB control goals.