Table 3 Health-system factors associated with delays in tuberculosis treatment
From: Delay in the treatment of pulmonary tuberculosis: a report from Afghanistan
Variable | N (%) | Patient delay (days) | Health-system delay (days) |
|---|---|---|---|
Mean (SD) | Mean (SD) | ||
First health-seeking behavior before diagnosis | |||
HCPs | 6 (4.9) | 9.7 (6.8)*** | NA |
Alternative health services | 116 (95.1) | 215.3 (122.4)*** | NA |
First consulted health facility | |||
Public health facility | 14 (11.6) | 91.7 (82.9)*** | 121.2 (175.4) |
Private health facility | 107 (88.4) | 221.6 (124.4)*** | 155.6 (100.3) |
Type of first HCP | |||
Doctor | 51 (42.2) | 165.7 (127.9)** | 122.6 (120.4)* |
Low-level HCP | 70 (57.8) | 236.4 (118.5)** | 168.2 (97.8)* |
Time (min) to reach nearest private health facility | |||
≤30 | 62 (53.9) | 186.7 (112.4)* | 135.6 (91.5) |
≥30 | 53 (46.1) | 245.1 (134.2)* | 172.2 (112.9) |
Time (min) to reach nearest public health facility | |||
≤60 | 43 (35.3) | 189.5 (115.0) | 113.1 (60.0)** |
≥60 | 79 (64.7) | 213.7 (133.7) | 171.2 (126.4)** |
Borrowed money for either transportation or treatment or both | |||
No | 8 (6.6) | 163.6 (160.7) | 207.6 (178.0) |
Yes | 114 (93.4) | 208.1 (125.2) | 146.8 (104.8) |
Number of visits to HCP before tuberculosis diagnosis | Mean (SD) | Correlation coefficients | |
|---|---|---|---|
Number of visits | 5.3 (2.3)a | NA | 0.38*** |