Table 5.

Distribution of respondents (n=388) by referral practice

Referral practice	Rural	Urban	Total
Likely place to refer a client with prolonged cough (>2 weeks)
Private hospital	82 (71.3)	222 (81.3)	304 (78.4)
Medical laboratory	32 (27.8)	49 (17.9)	81 (20.9)
Government hospital	15 (13.0)	32 (11.7)	47 (12.1)
Likely place to refer a suspected TB client
Nowhere	72 (62.6)	246 (90.1)	318 (82.0)
Private hospital	14 (12.2)	24 (8.8)	38 (9.8)
Medical laboratory	0 (0.0)	3 (1.1)	3 (0.8)
Government hospital	30 (26.1)	4 (1.5)	34 (8.8)
Ever-referred client with prolonged cough (>2 weeks)
Yes	80 (69.6)	221 (81.0)	301 (77.6)
No	35 (30.4)	52 (19.0)	87 (22.4)
Ever-referred a suspected TB client
Yes	74 (64.3)	182 (66.7)	256 (66.0)
No	41 (35.7)	91 (33.3)	132 (34.0)
Average time between first contact with clients with cough and referral
<1 week	9 (11.3)	26 (11.8)	35 (11.6)
1-<2 weeks	38 (47.5)	41 (18.6)	79 (26.2)
2–3 weeks	9 (11.3)	64 (29.0)	73 (24.3)
<1 month	7 (8.8)	14 (6.3)	21 (7.0)
>1 month	17 (21.3)	76 (34.4)	93 (30.9)
Reasons why referral may not be made
If symptom disappears	105 (91.3)	244 (89.4)	349 (89.9)
Client may return to me for treatment	88 (76.5)	204 (74.7)	292 (75.3)
Client may loose confidence in me	88 (76.5)	204 (74.7)	292 (75.3)
Client may not go to referral place	23 (20.0)	46 (16.8)	69 (17.8)
Client may go to other PMVs instead	24 (20.9)	39 (14.3)	63 (16.2)
Client may go to traditional healers instead	25 (21.7)	31 (11.4)	56 (14.4)
I can handle all cases	115 (100.0)	249 (91.2)	364 (93.8)
There are no better facilities around	15 (13.0)	57 (20.9)	72 (18.6)
The people are very poor	35 (30.4)	75 (27.5)	110 (28.4)

Figures in parentheses indicate percentages;

PMVs=Patent medicine vendors;

TB=Tuberculosis