Table 3.
Results of t-test of travel time and direct costs associated with seeking care for under-five children with cough and fever, Malawi 2005
| Variable | Travel time (min) (n=187)* | Direct costs (MWK)† (n=214)‡ | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No. | Mean (range) | p value | No. | Mean (range) | p value | |
| Wealth index | ||||||
| Poorest | 107 | 72.1 (1.0-660.0) | 0.08 | 137 | 41.6 (0.0-640.0) | 0.01 |
| Wealthiest | 74 | 47.9 (1.0-360.0) | 70 | 117.5 (0.0-900.0) | ||
| Place of residence | ||||||
| Urban | 20 | 14.1 (1.0-60.0) | <0.001 | 22 | 177.6 (0.0-600.0) | 0.02 |
| Rural | 167 | 68.9 (1.0-660.0) | 192 | 54.2 (0.0-640.0) | ||
| Type of provider | ||||||
| Untrained | 51 | 26.2 (1.0-120.0) | <0.001 | 114 | 34.1 (0.0-500.0) | <0.001 |
| Trained | 136 | 76.8 (1.0-660.0) | 100 | 104.4 (0.0-900.0) | ||
| Type of facility | ||||||
| Government | 63 | 59.4 (1.0-360.0) | 0.09 | 48 | 19.7 (0.0-240.0) | <0.001 |
| Private | 73 | 91.8 (1.0-660.0) | 52 | 182.5 (0.0-900.0) | ||
*Illness episodes for which information on travel time were available;
†Direct costs include travel costs, user fees, and costs of drugs measured in local currency—the Malawi Kwacha;
‡Illness episodes for which information on direct costs were available;
Min=Minutes; MWK=Malawi Kwacha