Associated Factors of Delayed Detection for Brucellosis on Northwestern Iran

Timely diagnosis of brucellosis especially in non-endemic areas is accompanied with delay diagnoses or mistake. This study was aimed at identifying factors associated with delay diagnoses of brucellosis in the North and North West Iran.
This was a cross-sectional study. Data from the first 6 months of 1393 for all reported cases of brucellosis by health-care providers (public and private) were studied. Data on disease reporting forms were collected by health professionals in health centers. To examine the changing role of the delay in diagnosis, a logistic regression model and to evaluate the relationship between qualitative variables, chi-square test was used.
In total, 2585 cases were reported by the patient care in the areas under study. Of these 1599 (62%), were male, and 2471 (95%) identified as new cases. The majority of cases 1017 (39.35%) attributed to age group of 25-44 years. Diagnostic delay significantly correlated with age and disease type (p The findings of the study showed that more is delay in the diagnosis of new cases and the group 25-44 years. Strengthening disease surveillance and reporting system, disease transmission ways and clinical symptoms training in order to reduce the delay in diagnosis is essential.