Table 4 Health access and health care seeking characteristics of pulmonary tuberculosis patients (n = 924) and patient delay at first consultation in Ethiopia during 2005–2006.
Patient delay | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
Variables | ≥ 30 days n (%) | < 30 days n (%) | COR (95% CI) | P-value |
Treatment sought prior to first visit in public health facilities: | ||||
No prior treatment | 211(43) | 285(57) | 1 | |
Holy water | 166(74) | 57(26) | 3.9(2.8, 5.5) | 0001 |
Traditional healers | 18(61) | 10(39) | 2.2(0.9, 4.8) | 0.06 |
Private practitioners | 64(55) | 53(45) | 1.6(1.1, 2.4) | 0.02 |
Private drug stores/pharmacies | 34(57) | 26(43) | 1.8(1.1, 3) | 0.04 |
The number of alternative treatments sought prior to the first consultation | ||||
Zero | 212(43) | 285(57) | 1 | |
One | 199(63) | 117(37) | 2.8(1.7, 3) | 0001 |
Two | 65(71) | 26(29) | 3.4(2, 5.4) | 0.002 |
Three | 14(82) | 3(18) | 6.3(1.7, 77) | 0.004 |
Four times | 3 | - | - | - |
Type of health facilities visited for the first time since onset of illness: | ||||
Hospitals | 297(50) | 296(50) | 1 | |
Health centres | 131(57) | 100(43) | 1.3(0.9, 1.8) | 0.08 |
Clinics | 65(65) | 35(35) | 1.9(1.2, 2.8) | 0.006 |
One way walking time to first visited health facility: | ||||
≤ 1 hour (median) | 226(48) | 243(52) | 1 | |
> 1 hour | 267(59) | 188(41) | 1.5(1.2, 1.9) | 0.001 |
Decision to visit the first public health facilities was made by: | ||||
Patients themselves | 308(52) | 286(48) | 1 | |
Private practitioners | 23(55) | 19(45) | 1.1(0.6, 2.1) | 0.7 |
Family members | 126(60) | 84(40) | 1.4(1.01,1.9 | 0.04 |
Others1 | 36(46) | 42(54) | 0.8(0.5,1.5) | 0.3 |