Table 4

Factors associated with diagnostic delay (>30 days) among patients with oesophageal cancer from February 2019 to August 2020, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (n=326)

Patient characteristicsDiagnostic delayUnadjustedAdjusted
Yes (%)No (%)PR (95% CI)P valuePR (95% CI)P value
Age of participants (years)
 <3517 (77.2)5 (22.8)ReferenceReference
 35–4433 (75.0)11 (25.0)0.94 (0.84 to 1.04)0.240.96 (0.86 to1.07)0.45
 45–5475 (87.2)11 (12.8)1.01 (0.92 to 1.09)0.921.02 (0.93 to 1.11)0.69
>55140 (80.5)34 (19.5)0.97 (0.89 to 1.05)0.450.97 (0.89 to 1.06)0.53
Marital status of participants during the data collection time
 Single78 (88.6)10 (11.4)1.80 (1.74 to 1.85)0.00011.2 (1=.1 to 2.10)**0.04
 Married189 (79.4)49 (20.6)ReferenceReference
Monthly family income (US$)
 <53139 (82.729 (17.3)0.95 (0.89 to 1.01)0.110.98 (0.88 to 1.09)0.69
 53–14180 (74.8)27 (25.2)0.91 (0.85 to 0.99)0.0080.91 (0.82 to 1.002)0.05
 141.4–23020 (80.0)5 (20.0)1.02 (0.95 to 1.09)0.571.01 (0.93 to 1.09)0.84
 >23019 (73.1)7 (26.9)ReferenceReference
Cost of one-way transport (US$)
 <767 (73.6)24 (26.4)Reference
>7200 (85.1)35 (14.9)1.07 (1.06 to 1.13)0.031.2 (1.12 to 1.54)**0.04
First medical consultation
 Health post35 (87.5)5 (12.5)0.99 (0.94 to 1.07)0.961.01 (0.94 to 1.08)0.83
 Health centre123 (77.4)36 (22.6)0.93 (0.88 to 0.99)0.0151.4 (1.2 to 2.30)**0.049
 Private clinic38 (88.4)5 (11.6)0.99 (0.94 to 1.06)0.781.01 (0.94 to 1.08)0.87
 Private hospital24 (72.7)9 (27.3)0.91 (0.82 to 1.002)0.0540.92 (0.83 to 1.02)0.10
 Public hospital46 (90.2)5 (9.8)ReferenceReference
Number of health facilities visited for diagnosis
 <313 (72.2)5 (27.8)ReferenceReference
 3–6153 (80.5)37 (19.5)0.93 (0.87 to 0.99)0.020.93 (0.87 to 1.22)0.054
 7–1067 (81.7)15 (18.3)0.93 (0.87 to 1.004)0.060.94 (0.87 to 1.01)0.108
 >1029 (82.9)6 (17.1)0.94 (0.86 to 1.026)0.170.94 (0.86 to 1.03)0.19
Source of medical expenses
 Free medical care57 (79.2)15 (20.8)Reference
 Government insurance11 (61.1)7 (38.9)0.90 (0.78 to 1.044)0.161.22 (1.13 to 2.40)*0.048
 Out of pocket199 (84.3)37 (15.7)1.03 (0.97 to 1.09)0.341.03 (0.98 to 1.09)0.26
  • *level of confidence

  • PR, prevalence ratio.