Table 3 Factors associated with Health system delays in accessing TB treatment services

Age in years

 18 – 25

9 (17.3)

Reference

Reference

 26 – 44

84 (34.4)

2.51 (1.08-5.84)

3.30 (1.16-9.37)

 45 – 54

18 (32.4)

2.30 (0.85-6.22)

3.57 (1.09-11.72)

 ≥55

7 (20.9)

1.26 (0.38-4.18)

2.66 (0.61-11.57)

Type of diagnostic test

 Direct smear microscopy

110 (30.4)

Reference

Reference

 Gene Xpert

7 (35.6)

1.27 (0.56-2.85)

0.21 (0.07-0.66)

Sex

 Female

61 (35.6)

Reference

Reference

 Male

56 (26.6)

0.66 (0.41-1.06)

0.47 (0.23-0.96)

Type of health facility

 District/mission hospital

48 (20.5)

Reference

Reference

 Provincial hospital

12 (64.6)

7.08 (2.81-17.88)

14.15 (4.58-43.69)

 Urban municipal

37 (50.1)

3.89 (2.21-6.86)

6.9 (2.41-19.82)

 Rural primary healthcare facility

21 (37.6)

2.33 (1.19-4.58)

2.67 (1.18-6.07)

TB Diagnosing centre on site

 Yes

71 (25.5)

Reference

Reference

 No

43 (45.8)

2.48 (1.53-4.02)

1.41 (0.59-3.36)

HIV status

 Not tested

2 (33.5)

Reference

Reference

 HIV-negative

38 (27.0)

0.73 (0.13-4.11)

0.72 (0.06-8.97)

 HIV-positive, not yet on ART

20 (28.0)

0.77 (0.13-4.52)

0.70 (0.06-8.99)

 HIV-positive, on ART/CPT

55 (34.5)

1.04 (0.19-5.78)

1.37 (0.11-17.04)

Residence

 Urban

43 (37.6)

Reference

Reference

 Rural

74 (27.9)

0.81 (0.54-1.22)

0.95 (0.71-1.29)

History of smoking

 Never

80 (29.9)

Reference

Reference

 Current smoker

7 (25.1)

0.79 (0.29-2.14)

1.58 (0.45-5.63)

 Quit smoking

29 (34.2)

1.22 (0.70-2.12)

0.86 (0.39-1.89)

History of alcohol use

 Never

64 (30.1)

Reference

Reference

 Current drinker

5 (18.6)

0.53 (0.20-1.37)

0.40 (0.11-1.42)

 Quit alcohol use

46 (34.7)

1.23 (0.74-2.05)

1.50 (0.69-3.26)

Took traditional medicine

 No

109 (31.3)

Reference

Reference

 Yes

9 (24.6)

0.72 (0.31-1.65)

0.66 (0.28-1.57)

Took self-medication from pharmacy

 No

98 (29.2)

Reference

Reference

 Yes

20 (41.3)

1.71 (0.90-3.23)

1.68 (0.72-3.93)

Health care visits prior to diagnosis

 1

46 (26.8)

Reference

Reference

 2

40 (33.5)

1.38 (0.79-2.41)

1.82 (0.93-3.53)

 3

10 (25.2)

0.92 (0.39-2.15)

0.99 (0.33-2.96)

 ≥4

20 (43.9)

2.14 (1.06-4.34)

2.24 (1.02-4.94)

Time taken to reach health facility

 <30 minutes

52 (34.3)

Reference

Reference

 30mins - 1 hour

33 (33.1)

0.95 (0.52-1.71)

1.38 (0.65-2.93)

 >1 hour

32 (25.4)

0.65 (0.37-1.15)

1.03 (0.46-2.27)

Distance to health facility (in km)

 ≤5

44 (36.4)

Reference

Reference

 6 – 15

17 (26.7)

0.64 (0.32-1.27)

0.78 (0.32-1.88)

 16 – 30

18 (32.9)

0.86 (0.41-1.78)

1.84 (0.68-4.98)

 ≥30

15 (16.5)

0.35 (0.16-0.75)

0.51 (0.20-1.29)

Difficulty in accessing transport to health centre

 No

21 (32.6)

Reference

Reference

 Yes

96 (30.3)

1.14 (0.60-2.19)

1.00 (0.64-1.57)

Total

118 (30.7)

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