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. 2024 Jan 2;23:1. doi: 10.1186/s12936-023-04824-8

Table 3.

Bivariate analysis of factors influencing patients’ adherence to ACT treatment in Kamuli District

Variable Adhered Did not adhere Test-statistic p-value 95% CI (lower, upper)
Socio-demographic factors
 Age Mean Diff = 2.993 2.258 0.024* (0.391, 5.594)
 Gender
  Male 207 (66.8) 94 (31.2) 0.178 0.673
  Female 381 (70.2) 162 (29.8)
 Marital status
  In relationship 370 (71.6) 147 (28.4) 2.276 0.131
  Not in a relationship 218 (66.7) 109(33.)
 Household size Mean Diff = − 0.287 − 1.442 0.150 (− 0.677, 0.104)
 Household head
  Father 451 (67.7) 215 (32.3) 14.484 0.002*
  Mother 79 (79) 21 (21)
  Sibling 9 (47.4) 10 (52.6)
  Grandparent 48 (82.8) 10 (17.2)
 Relationship to household head
  Son 119 (71.7) 47 (28.3) 10.95 0.09**
  Daughter 178 (68.2) 83 (31.8)
  Sibling 8 (47.1) 9 (52.9)
  Grandchild 30 (76.9) 9 (23.1)
  Grand parent 3 (75) 1 (25)
  Self 107 (77) 32 (23)
  Partner 143 (65.6) 75 (34.4)
Socio-economic factors
 Education level
  Primary 230 (73.2) 84 (26.8) 7.427 0.191
  Below certificate 174 (66.7) 87 (33.3)
  Certificate holder 123 (65.4) 65 (34.6)
  Diploma holder 13 (68.4) 6 (31.6)
  Masters/PGD/PhD 4 (100) 0 (0)
  No formal education 44 (75.9) 14 (24.1)
 Employment status
  Formal employment 52 (71.2) 21 (28.8) 35.886 0.000*
  Informal employment 217 (59.1) 150 (40.9)
  Not employed at all 319 (79) 85 (21)
 Monthly income Mean Diff = − 25.686 − 0.001 0.999 (− 40433.157, 40381.786)
 Has transport means to facility
  Yes 425 (68.7) 194 (31.3) 1.043 0.307
  No 162 (72.3) 62 (27.7)
 Source of information in homestead
  Radio 335 (66.3) 170 (33.7) 6.866 0.076**
  Television 75 (76.5) 23 (23.5)
  Both radio and television 91 (73.4) 33 (26.6)
  No 87 (74.4) 30 (25.6)
 Nature of family house
  Rented 135 (74.6) 46 (25.4) 5.671 0.129
  Owned—permanent 266 (65.8) 138 (34.2)
  Owned—semi permanent 157 (72.4) 60 (27.6)
  Owned—temporary 30 (71.4) 12 (28.6)
Socio-cultural factors
 Religion
  Ccatholic 130 (73.9) 46 (26.1) 4.723 0.451
  Anglican 267 (69.7) 116 (30.3)
  Muslim 82 (67.2) 40 (32.8)
  Born again Christian 105 (68.2) 49 (31.8)
  Traditional believer 1 (50) 1 (50)
  Seventh Day Adventist 3 (42.9) 4 (57.1)
 Prefer ACT to other antimalarials
  Yes 477 (73) 176 (27) 15.981 < 0.0001*
  No 110 (57.9) 80 (42.1)
 Perceived preference of drug formulation
  Tablet 488 (70.8) 201 (29.2) 5.875 0.053**
  Syrup 18 (52.9) 16 (47.1)
  Injection 51 (64.6) 28 (35.4)
 Satisfied with waiting time to get service
  Yes 370 (71.3) 149 (28.7) 1.63 0.213
  No 210 (67.1) 103 (32.9)
 Took herbal medicine with ACT
  Yes 143 (67.5) 69 (32.5) 0.803 0.387
  No 442 (70.7) 183 (29.3)
Health system factors
 Patient/caregiver given instructions on how to take the medicine
  Yes 542 (71.1) 220 (28.9) 7.134 0.011*
  No 46 (56.8) 35 (43.2)
 Patient took first dose of ACT at the facility under observation of health worker
  Yes 75 (68.8) 34 (31.2) 0.044 0.824
  No 513 (69.8) 222 (30.2)
 A qualified health worker saw patient
  Yes 524 (70) 225 (30) 0.085 0.81
  No 63 (68.5) 29 (31.5)
 ACT package used as visual aid for instructions
  Yes 323 (67.9) 153 (32.1) 1.960 0.173
  No 264 (72.3) 101 (27.7)
 Know right dosage of ACT
  Yes 508 (70.4) 214 (29.6) 1.260 0.286
  No 79 (65.3) 42 (34.7)
 Satisfied with getting ACT medicine at facility
  Yes 515 (74.9) 173 (25.1) 48.261 < 0.0001*
  No 72 (46.5) 83 (53.5)
 Patient present with fever
  Yes 569 (69.7) 247 (30.3) 0.045 0.836
  No 19 (67.9) 9 (32.1)
 Malaria diagnostic method
  Microscopy 308 (70) 132 (30) 1.122 0.571
  RDT 277 (69.6) 121 (47.3)
  Both 3 (50) 3 (50)
 Patients know the ACT prescribed
  Yes 465 (67.9) 220 (32.1) 5.483 0.019*
  No 123 (77.4) 36 (22.6)
 Participant ever saved ACT medicines (history of saving ACT)
  Yes 77 (51.7) 72 (48.3) 39.242 < 0.0001*
  No 178 (25.7) 515 (74.3)
 Participant ever shared ACT medicines
  Yes 67 (50.8) 65 (49.2) 30.893 < 0.0001*
  No 189 (26.5) 523 (73.5)

ACT artemisinin-based combination therapy, RDT malaria rapid diagnostic test, Mean Diff mean difference, CI confidence interval

*Statistically significant

**Borderline statistical significance