Table 4.
Binary Logistic Regression Analysis of Variables Associated with Delayed Presentation Among BC Patients at the Only Oncology Center of North East Ethiopia, 2020 (N=204)
| Variable | Patient Delay | COR (95% CI) | P value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Socio-Demographic Characteristics | <3 Months | ≥3 Months | ||
| Age | ||||
| <40 | 63 (62.4) | 32 (31.1) | 1 | |
| ≥40 | 38 (37.6) | 71 (68.9) | 3.67* (2.05–6.56) | 0.021* |
| Level of education | ||||
| Unable to read and write | 18 (17.8) | 42 (40.8) | 1 | |
| Completion of primary education | 24 (23.8) | 35 (33.9) | 0.62 (0.29–1.33) | 0.118 |
| Completion of secondary education | 30 (29.7) | 20 (19.4) | 0.28* (0.12–0.62) | 0.036* |
| College and above | 29 (28.7) | 6 (5.8) | 0.08*(0.03–0.25) | 0.031* |
| Occupation | ||||
| Housewife | 38 (37.6) | 60 (58.3) | 1 | |
| Employed | 35 (34.7) | 11 (10.7) | 0.19* (0.09–0.44) | 0.002* |
| Merchant | 14 (13.8) | 18 (17.5) | 0.81 (0.36–1.82) | 0.757 |
| Farmer | 14 (13.8) | 14 (13.6) | 0.63 (0.27–1.47) | 0.298 |
| Residence | ||||
| Rural | 37 (36.6) | 61 (59.2) | 1 | |
| Urban | 64 (63.4) | 42 (40.8) | 0.39* (0.23–0.69) | 0.001* |
| Marital status | ||||
| Single | 12 (11.8) | 7 (6.8) | 1 | |
| Married | 19 (18.8) | 34 (33.1) | 3.06 (1.03–9.11) | 0.043* |
| Divorced | 46 (45.5) | 38 (36.9) | 1.41 (0.51–3.95) | 0.506 |
| Widowed | 24 (23.8) | 24 (23.3) | 1.71 (0.57–5.10) | 0.333 |
| Parity | ||||
| ≤3 | 49 (59.0) | 36 (38.3) | 1 | |
| 3–5 | 22 (26.5) | 34 (36.2) | 2.10 (1.05–4.18) | 0.034* |
| >5 | 12 (14.5) | 24 (25.5) | 1.2 (1.1–6.15) | 0.016* |
| Household income | ||||
| ≤1250 | 21 (20.8) | 30 (29.1) | 1 | |
| 1250–2000 | 37 (36.6) | 41 (39.8) | 0.78 (0.38–1.58) | 0.485 |
| 2001–3000 | 12 (11.8) | 15 (14.6) | 0.87 (0.34–2.24) | 0.781 |
| >3001 | 31 (30.7) | 17 (16.5) | 0.38 (0.17–0.86) | 0.021* |
| Time to come to DRH | ||||
| <4 | 57 (56.4) | 55 (53.4) | 1 | |
| 4–8 | 30 (29.7) | 34 (33.1) | 1.17 (0.63–2.17) | 0.608 |
| 8–12 | 14 (13.8) | 14 (13.6) | 1.03 (0.45–2.37) | 0.933 |
| Awareness of breast cancer | ||||
| Yes | 21 (20.8) | 9 (8.7) | 1 | |
| No | 80 (79.2) | 94 (91.3) | 2.74 (1.18–6.32) | 0.037* |
| Clinical factors | ||||
| Comorbidity | ||||
| Yes | 10 (9.9) | 18 (17.5) | 1 | |
| No | 91 (90.1) | 85 (82.5) | 0.52 (0.23–1.19) | 0.120* |
| Stage at diagnosis | ||||
| Early stage | 42 (41.6) | 28 (27.2) | 1 | |
| Late stage | 59 (58.4) | 75 (72.8) | 1.91 (1.05–3.43) | 0.031 |
| First change of breast | ||||
| Breast lump | ||||
| Yes | 56 (55.5) | 61 (59.2) | 1 | |
| No | 45 (44.5) | 42 (40.8) | 0.85 (0.49–1.49) | 0.586 |
| Breast pain | ||||
| Yes | 44 (43.6) | 26 (25.2) | 1 | |
| No | 57 (56.4) | 77 (74.8) | 2.28 (1.26–4.13) | 0.006* |
| Lump in under armpit | ||||
| Yes | 21 (20.8) | 9 (8.74) | 1 | |
| No | 80 (79.2) | 94 (91.3) | 2.74 (1.18–6.32) | 0.018* |
| Discharge/ulceration | ||||
| Yes | 9 (8.9) | 6 (5.8) | 1 | |
| No | 92 (91.0) | 97 (94.2) | 1.58 (0.54–4.61) | 0.402 |
| Pulling in of nipple | ||||
| Yes | 10 (9.9) | 7 (6.8) | 1 | |
| No | 91 (90.1) | 96 (93.2) | 1.55 (0.55–4.12) | 0.4252 |
| Personal factors for delay | ||||
| Lack of money | ||||
| Yes | 24 (23.8) | 41 (39.8) | 1 | |
| No | 77 (76.2) | 62 (60.2) | 0.47 (0.25–0.86) | 0.015 |
| Lack of awareness about the symptom | ||||
| Yes | 50 (49.5) | 63 (61.2) | 1 | |
| No | 51 (50.5) | 40 (38.8) | 0.62 (0.35–1.08) | 0.595 |
| Thought it will relief by itself | ||||
| Yes | 91 (90.1) | 95 (92.2) | 1 | |
| No | 10 (9.9) | 8 (7.7) | 0.76 (0.28–2.02) | 0.592 |
| Sought traditional/spiritual healer | ||||
| Yes | 23 (22.7) | 45 (43.7) | 1 | |
| No | 78 (77.2) | 58 (56.3) | 0.38 (0.21–0.69) | 0.002 |
| Health system factors for delay | ||||
| Type of health service at first visit | ||||
| Health centre | 47 (46.5) | 64 (62.1) | 1 | |
| Private clinic | 27 (26.7) | 13 (12.6) | 0.35 (0.16–0.75) | 0.007* |
| Hospital | 27 (26.7) | 26 (25.2) | 0.71 (0.36–1.36) | 0.301 |
| Recommendation of healthcare provider | ||||
| Nothing serious | 23 (22.8) | 22 (21.4) | 1 | |
| Infection | 14 (13.8) | 10 (9.71) | 0.74 (0.27–2.03) | 0.567 |
| May be cancer | 64 (63.4) | 71 (68.9) | 1.15 (0.59–2.27) | 0.667 |
| Referred by the clinician | ||||
| Yes | 64 (63.4) | 71 (68.9) | 1 | |
| No | 37 (36.6) | 32 (31.1) | 0.77 (0.43–1.39) | 0.401 |
| Number of consultations before coming to DRH | ||||
| 0–1 | 37 (36.6) | 18 (17.5) | 1 | |
| 2 | 29 (28.7) | 50 (48.5) | 3.54 (1.71–7.32) | 0.001* |
| ≥3 | 35 (34.6) | 35 (33.9) | 2.05 (0.98–4.27) | 0.054* |
Note: *Statistically significant at p<0.25.