Sample characteristics by study variables*
| Variable type | 2011 | 2012 | 2016 | Overall | |
| Dependent variables | |||||
| Response time | <24 hours | 322 (62.3) | 230 (53.0) | 339 (41.7) | 891 (50.5) |
| 24+hrs | 195 (37.7) | 204 (47.0) | 475 (58.3) | 874 (49.5) | |
| Satisfaction score | 1–2 ‘high’ | 230 (43.2) | 143 (31.9) | 278 (34.6) | 651 (36.5) |
| 3–7 ‘lower’ | 303 (56.9) | 306 (68.1) | 525 (65.4) | 1134 (63.5) | |
| Independent variables | |||||
| Correct practice (model 1) | No | 506 (96.0) | 148 (38.3) | 253 (31.2) | 907 (52.6) |
| Yes | 21 (4.0)† | 238 (61.7) | 559 (68.8) | 818 (47.4) | |
| Correct practice (model 2) | No | 535 (99.8) | 323 (83.3) | 658 (80.5) | 1516 (87.1) |
| Yes | 1 (0.2) | 65 (16.7) | 159 (19.5) | 225 (12.9) | |
| Sex | Male | 254 (49.1) | 236 (54.4) | 429 (52.7) | 919 (52.1) |
| Female | 263 (50.9) | 198 (45.6) | 385 (47.3) | 846 (47.9) | |
| Age | <5 years | 274 (53.0) | 217 (50.0) | 319 (39.2) | 810 (45.9) |
| 5–15 years | 88 (17.0) | 89 (20.5) | 166 (20.4) | 343 (19.4) | |
| 16+ years | 155 (30.0) | 128 (29.5) | 329 (40.4) | 612 (35.7) | |
| Respondent status | Patient | 191 (37.2) | 124 (28.6) | 336 (41.3) | 651 (37.0) |
| Caregiver | 323 (62.8) | 309 (71.4) | 477 (58.7) | 1109 (63.0) | |
| Region | Highlands | 81 (15.7) | 89 (20.5) | 155 (19.0) | 325 (18.4) |
| Other | 436 (84.3) | 345 (79.5) | 659 (81.0) | 1440 (81.6) | |
| Location of health facility | Rural | 338 (65.4) | 359 (82.7) | 606 (74.5) | 1303 (73.8) |
| Urban | 179 (34.6) | 75 (17.3) | 208 (25.5) | 462 (26.2) | |
| Distance to health facility | Hours‡ | 0.5 (1.0) | 0.6 (0.66) | 0.5 (0.75) | 0.5 (0.75) |
| Transport cost | Cost incurred | – | 140 (32.4) | 222 (27.4) | 362 (29.1) |
| No-cost incurred | – | 292 (67.6) | 589 (72.6) | 881 (70.9) | |
| Health facility fee | Paid | 308 (59.6) | 235 (54.2) | 356 (43.7) | 899 (50.9) |
| Not required | 209 (40.4) | 199 (45.8) | 458 (56.3) | 866 (49.1) | |
| Diagnostic tests and ACT in stock | No | 480 (92.8) | 39 (9.0) | 288 (35.4) | 807 (45.7) |
| Yes | 37 (7.2) | 395 (91.0) | 526 (64.4) | 958 (54.3) | |
*Number (%) unless otherwise stated.
†While not widely implemented, a small number of health facilities had the necessary resources to provide test-based ACT prescription in 2011.
‡Median (IQR).
ACT, artemisinin combination therapy.