Socioeconomic characteristics, disease status at registration, treatment history were compared between the cured and the defaulted among those who were discharged from the health center registration for pulmonary tuberculosis in order to analyse characteristics of the treatment defaulters and find out the determinants for defaulting. Three health centers in large city, medium-sized city and rural area were chosen one each and those patients discharged from July 1, 1980 to June 30, 1982 were sampled. Record as well as interview survey was done and results were as follows.
1. There was no statistically significant difference in sex and age distribution, however, defaulters were more in male, and age group 40 to 59 among the defaulters.
2. The rate was higher in production or transportation and sales workers among the defaulters, and higher in the unemployed, farmers, students and clerical workers among the cured group.
3. There was no difference in economic status, however, lower education group was more among the defaulters than higher education group.
4. There was no difference in number of household members, however, statistically. significant difference in marital status, that is, the rate was higher in divorced and widowed among the defaulters.
5. As for the relationship with head of household, patient himself, parents and others were higher among the defaulters and children and wife was higher among the cured relatively.
6. The rate was higher when the patients have a family or friends who were infected tuberculosis among the defaulters.
7. The severe the diseases when it was diagnosed, the more defaulters were. Sputum positive rate was higher among the defaulters than the cured.
8. The rate of adequate treatment was higher among the cured and the rate of aide reaction was higher among the defaulters.
9. The rate for regular follow up for radiological examination or sputum test was higher among the cured.
10. The rate for retreatment after failing initial treatment was higher among the defaulters.
11. The reason of defaulting was “no treatment effect”(41.5%), and “no symptom s”(30.8%) among the defaulters, that is, patients were not well educated or understood. Only 3.1% reported economic reason.
12. As for the treatment behavior, a total of 48.1% receives treatment at another facilities after defaulting, however 51.9% did not get any treatment. Among the higher income group, total of 75% received treatment at hospitals and clinics or drug store after defaulting from health center treatment. On the contrary, only 28% among the low income group received treatment after defaulting from the health center treatment and the remainder gave up treatment.
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