Table 4 Multivariate analysis for factors associated with antibiotic under-prescription for diarrheal children under 5 years old with dysentery in Nairobi, Kibera (n = 179)

 Age < 1

4/47 (8.51%)

33/132 (25.0%)

3.58 (1.20–10.72)

 Male

21/47 (44.7%)

73/132 (55.3%)

1.53 (0.78–2.99)

 Clinic visit within 14 days

7/47 (14.9%)

21/132 (15.9%)

1.08 (0.43–2.74)

 Clinic visit within 14 days with diarrheal symptom

3/45 (6.7%)

8/127 (6.3%)

0.94 (0.24–3.71)

 Clinic visit within 14 days with antibiotic treatment

1/47 (2.1%)

3/132 (2.3%)

1.07 (0.11–10.51)

 Weight-for-age < −2

8/47 (17.0%)

21/132 (15.9%)

0.92 (0.38–2.25)

 Height-for-age < −2

23/42 (54.8%)

46/106 (43.4%)

0.63 (0.31–1.30)

 Weight-for-height < − 2

3/42 (7.1%)

7/106 (6.6%)

0.92 (0.23–3.74)

 Measured or reported fever

8/47 (17.0%)

13/132 (9.85%)

0.53 (0.21–1.38)

 Cough

25/47 (53.2%)

55/132 (41.7%)

0.63 (0.32–1.22)

 Difficulty breathing

1/43 (2.33%)

0/107 (0%)

N/A

 Sore throat

0/47 (0%)

0/131 (0%)

N/A

 Vomiting

5/47 (10.6%)

8/132 (6.1%)

0.54 (0.17–1.75)

 Runny nose

27/47 (57.5%)

63/132 (47.7%)

0.68 (0.35–1.32)

 Sneezing

6/47 (12.7%)

16/132 (12.1%)

0.94 (0.35–2.57)

 Restless or irritable

0/47 (0%)

0/131 (0%)

N/A

 Sunken eyes

1/47 (2.1%)

0/132 (0%)

N/A

 Drinks eagerly, thirsty

2/47 (4.3%)

0/132 (0%)

N/A

 Skin tenting

1/47 (2.1%)

0/131 (0%)

N/A

 Signs of anemia

0/47 (0%)

1/131 (0.8%)

N/A

 Crackles/rales

0/47 (0%)

1/132 (0.8%)

N/A

 Gastroenteritis

32/47 (68.1%)

79/131 (60.3%)

0.71 (0.35–1.44)

 Malaria diagnosis

1/47 (2.1%)

2/131 (1.5%)

0.71 (0.06–8.05)

 Dehydration

1/47 (2.1%)

1/131 (0.8%)

0.35 (0.02–5.78)

 URTI^a

14/47 (29.8%)

40/131 (30.5%)

1.04 (0.50–2.14)

 Dysentery

13/47 (27.7%)

7/131 (5.3%)

0.15 (0.06–0.40)

 Concurrent ORS^a

37/47 (78.7%)

83/132 (62.9%)

0.46 (0.21–1.00)

 Concurrent zinc

15/47 (31.9%)

42/132 (31.8%)

1.00 (0.49–2.03)