Table 2 Factors associated with patient delay in accessing TB treatment services

Age in years

 18 – 25

30 (55.8)

Reference

Reference

 26 – 44

122 (50.0)

0.79 (0.41-1.53)

0.55 (0.25-1.19)

 45 – 54

24 (43.9)

0.62 (0.26-1.46)

0.55 (0.21-1.43)

 ≥55

9 (29.4)

0.33 (0.12-0.88)

0.35 (0.10-1.24)

Sex

 Female

80 (46.5)

Reference

Reference

 Male

105 (49.7)

1.13 (0.72-1.78)

1.07 (0.59-1.96)

Type of health facility

 District/mission hosp

95 (51.2)

Reference

Reference

 Provincial hospital

10 (5.2)

1.77 (0.64-4.86)

1.82 (0.53-6.30)

 Urban municipal clinic

45 (24.6)

2.45 (1.42-4.22)

1.78 (0.88-3.60)

 Rural primary healthcare facility

35 (19.0)

2.61 (1.36-5.01)

2.70 (1.27-5.75)

HIV status

 Not tested

2 (40.0)

Reference

Reference

 HIV negative

63 (44.6)

1.21 (0.25-5.81)

1.01 (0.16-6.51)

 HIV positive, not on ART

36 (51.0)

1.56 (0.32-7.66)

1.38 (0.22-8.77)

 HIV positive, on ART/CPT

80 (50.5)

1.53 (0.32-7.30)

1.68 (0.26-10.77)

Staying with anyone currently on TB treatment

 No

170 (48.9)

Reference

Reference

 Yes

15 (41.7)

0.75 (0.35-1.61)

0.99 (0.79-1.23)

Education

 More than secondary

10 (48.2)

Reference

Reference

 Secondary

101 (52.7)

1.20 (0.43-3.31)

1.40 (0.45-4.37)

 Primary

66 (44.8)

0.87 (0.31-2.45)

1.35 (0.39-4.74)

No education

9 (36.7)

0.62 (0.17-2.29)

1.10 (0.23-5.33)

Employment status

 Formal employment

25 (61.2)

Reference

Reference

 Informal employment

54 (51.5)

0.67 (0.33-1.39)

0.92 (0.37-2.27)

 Unemployed

104 (44.3)

0.50 (0.26-1.00)

0.74 (0.30-1.85)

Residence

 Urban

60 (52.8)

Reference

Reference

 Rural

119 (46.2)

0.82 (0.53-1.26)

1.04 (0.80-1.33)

History of smoking

 Never

131 (48.8)

Reference

Reference

 Current smoker

10 (36.8)

0.61 (0.24-1.57)

0.59 (0.20-1.78)

 Quit smoking

43 (50.3)

1.06 (0.63-1.80)

0.75 (0.35-1.62)

History of alcohol use

 Never

98 (46.2)

Reference

Reference

 Current drinker

12 (43.0)

0.88 (0.40-1.91)

1.19 (0.39-3.57)

 Quit alcohol use

69 (52.3)

1.28 (0.78-2.08)

1.26 (0.61-2.64)

Previous contact with TB patient

 No

100 (47.8)

Reference

Reference

 Yes

84 (48.8)

1.03 (0.66-1.59)

0.96 (0.79-1.16)

Took traditional medicine

 No

163 (46.8)

Reference

Reference

 Yes

22 (62.4)

1.88 (0.84-4.20)

1.80 (0.76-4.28)

Took self-medication from pharmacy

 No

140 (44.5)

Reference

Reference

 Yes

45 (65.4)

2.35 (1.35-4.11)

2.33 (1.23-4.43)

First consulted private practitioner

 No

166 (46.9)

Reference

Reference

 Yes

19 (65.3)

2.14 (0.95-4.81)

1.47 (0.56-3.87)

Time taken to reach health facility

 <30 minutes

89 (59.3)

Reference

Reference

 30mins - 1 hour

40 (39.9)

0.45 (0.26-0.81)

0.43 (0.22-0.83)

 >1 hour

54 (42.5)

0.51 (0.31-0.82)

0.47 (0.24-0.94)

Distance to health facility (in km)

 ≤5

66 (54.1)

Reference

Reference

 6 – 15

28 (43.8)

0.66 (0.36-1.21)

1.14 (0.52-2.47)

 16 – 30

27 (50.1)

0.85 (0.41-1.76)

1.85 (0.79-4.37)

 ≥30

39 (43.0)

0.64 (0.35-1.18)

1.39 (0.60-3.23)

Difficulty in accessing transport to health centre

 No

150 (46.6)

Reference

Reference

 Yes

35 (57.3)

1.51 (0.80-2.85)

0.66 (0.40-1.08)

Ever heard of TB before diagnosis?

 No

18 (40.4)

Reference

Reference

 Yes

156 (48.7)

1.40 (0.63-3.13)

1.16 (0.97-1.40)

Total

184 (48.3)

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