Factors associated with patient and health care system delay among migrant and local tuberculosis patients in Istanbul: a cross-sectional study.

Background: Effective tuberculosis (TB) management requires timely diagnosis and immediate treatment initiation. The urgency for diagnosing and treating TB is particularly acute among immigrants, who face heightened health risks due to factors such as poverty, hazardous working conditions, and limited healthcare access. The objective of this study was to examine the characteristics of patient and health care delays among migrant and local TB patients in Istanbul and to identify factors associated with delays in the diagnosis and treatment of TB in both migrant and local patients.