Table 1 Health access and health seeking behaviour among pulmonary tuberculosis patients (n = 924) in Ethiopia during 2005–2006.
Variables | Frequency (%)) |
|---|---|
Treatment sought before the first visit at public health facilities: | |
No prior treatment | 496 (54) |
Holy water | 223 (24) |
Private practitioners | 117 (13) |
Private drug stores/pharmacies | 62 (7) |
Traditional healers | 26 (3) |
The number of visits made at alternative treatment/provider: | |
None | 496 (54) |
One | 316 (34) |
Two | 91 (10) |
Three | 17 (2) |
Four | 3 (0.3) |
Type of public health facilities visited at first consultation: | |
Clinics | 100 (11) |
Health centres | 231 (25) |
Hospitals | 593 (64) |
One way walking time to health facilities: | |
≤ 40 minutes (median) | 469 (51) |
> 40 minutes | 455 (49) |
Who made the decision to visit public health facilities? | |
Patients themselves | 594 (64) |
Family members | 210 (23) |
Health workers (private practitioners) | 42 (5) |
Others1 | 78 (8) |