Research Article

The Role of Private Health Sector for Tuberculosis Control in Debre Markos Town, Northwest Ethiopia

Table 4

Health-seeking behavior and other characteristics of patients with symptoms of tuberculosis by provider visited first, Debre Markos Town, February-March 2009.

CharacteristicsPrivate N = 90 (%)Public N = 161 (%)Crude OR 95% CIAdjusted OR 95% CI

Duration of illness before 1st visit
< 4 months46 (51.1)79 (49.1)0.99 (0.60, 1.65)
>4 months44 (48.9)82 (50.9)1
Provider delay 
< 4 months60 (66.6)136 (84.6)11
>4 months30 (33.4)25 (15.4)5.38 (1.17, 28.03)10.44 (1.17,93.36)a
Travelling time 
< 3 hrs76 (84.4)138 (85.2)0.67 (0.31, 1.47)
>3 hrs14 (14.6)23 (14.8)1
Service charge 
< 100.0020 (22.2)132 (81.4)11
>100.0070 (77.8)29 (18.6)3.75 (1.73, 8.33)2.70 (1.20, 6.08)a
Difficulty to pay for service
Difficult60 (66.7)90 (55.6)1.60 (1.2, 2.28)
Not difficult30 (33.3)71 (44.4)1
Satisfaction with time given
Satisfied80 (89.4)142 (88.5)1.09 (0.63–1.91)
Not satisfied10 (10.6)19 (11.5)1
Satisfaction with cost
Satisfied74 (83.8)142 (88.1)0.70 (0.43, 1.14)
Not satisfied16 (16.2)19 (11.9)1
Overall satisfaction
Satisfied82 (91.9)144 (89.1)1.39 (0.76–2.60)
Not satisfied8 (8.1)17 (10.9)1
Waiting time
< 3 hrs86 (95.5)132 (81.5)2.65 (1.17, 6.17)2.67 (1.79, 6.16)a
>3 hrs4 (4.5)29 (18.5)11
Know someone with TB
No66 (75.3)120 (72.7)1.14 (0.77, 1.69)1.96 (1.15, 3.35)a
Yes24 (24.7)43 (27.3)11

Referent values; astatistically significant associations.