Table 4.
Adjusted (Multivariate) analysis of background variables and socio-cultural variables associated with timely and delayed treatment *
| Treatment status |
Timely treatment N = 178 |
P-values |
|---|---|---|
| OR (95% CI) | ||
|
Education |
|
|
| Primary |
Ref |
|
| Secondary and above |
0.5 (0.16, 1.62) |
0.254 |
| No education |
0.4 (0.09, 1.58) |
0.180 |
|
Patterns of distress |
|
|
| Problems with mobility and use of affected limbs |
0.8 (0.29, 2.50) |
0.762 |
| Disrupted education |
0.4 (0.12, 1.63) |
0.220 |
| Loss of income |
0.5 (0.13, 1.75) |
0.267 |
| Anxiety |
0.6 (0.25, 1.57) |
0.316 |
| Embarrassed about condition |
0.6 (0.22, 1.41) |
0.216 |
| Recurring infection |
3.5 (0.71, 17.63) |
0.125 |
|
Perceived causes |
|
|
| Drinking unclean water |
3.8 (1.34, 10.63) |
0.011 |
| Prone to illness |
0.2 (0.05, 1.09) |
0.064 |
| Weakness of blood |
0.6 (0.24, 1.79) |
0.406 |
|
Outside-help |
|
|
| Herbalist |
0.2 (0.08, 0.56) |
0.002 |
| Fetish/spiritualist |
0.2 (0.05, 1.09) |
0.064 |
| Prayer camp |
0.4 (0.13, 1.32) |
0.136 |
| Municipal health facilities |
1.2 (0.31, 4.68) |
0.792 |
| Government hospital outside the district |
0.3 (0.05, 1.56) |
0.150 |
| Nothing |
0.4 (0.04, 2.96) |
0.343 |
|
Reasons for medical treatment |
|
|
| Easy access to health centre |
8.5 (1.61, 44.47) |
0.012 |
| Self-referral |
2.3 (0.74, 6.98) |
0.151 |
| Referral by family and friends |
1.6 (0.57, 4.43) |
0.374 |
| Get well quickly |
1.5 (0.30, 7.32) |
0.620 |
| Effectiveness of antibiotic treatment | 2.8 (0.55, 14.51) | 0.215 |
*Odds ratios, confidence intervals and p-values for all variables included in the adjusted model are shown in the table. Values in bold indicate statistical significance (p ≤ 0.05). The fitness of the model was assessed with the p-value (p < 0.001). OR = odds ratios, CI = confidence intervals. Timely treatment is defined as seeking treatment < 3 months from first awareness of symptoms to appropriate help-seeking.