Table 6 Factors influencing the total direct financial cost (in USD ^a ) in the management of an episode of illness, Lubumbashi 2010

Age

  ≤ 4

18

2.6 (1.0-11.5)

0.0-6.5

  ≥ 5

77

8.9 (2.5-18.3)

6.0-11.7

Sex

  Male

39

8.7 (1.7-21.5)

3.6-13.7

  Female

56

6.5 (2.4-14.3)

4.0-9.0

First therapeutic option

  Informal

57

5.7 (1.3-13.5)

2.5-8.8

  Formal

38

8.9 (1.8-19.4)

5.2-12.6

Number of therapeutic options used

  1

58

3.3 (1.7-13.3)

0.0-11.6

  2

32

7.4 (1.7-23.4)

2.3-12.6

  3

5

8.8 (2.5-15.0)

6.2-11.4

Health problems

  Malaria syndrome

31

3.9 (1.0-15.8)

1.1-6.7

  Respiratory tract syndrome

23

8.9 (2.7-13.7)

6.0-11.8

  WHS complex

15

10.7 (3.5-26.9)

3.4-17.9

  Others

26

7.5 (2.0-14.7)

4.8-10.2

Level of education of household head

  Illiterate and primary education

22

11.3 (2.6-18.8)

5.8-16.7

  Secondary education

48

5.3 (1.1-17.1)

1.6-8.9

  Higher education

25

9.8 (3.3-15.6)

5.9-13.6

Socioeconomic status of the household

  1 (Poorest)

20

8.8 (4.6-15.4)

5.0-12.6

  2

23

9.4 (1.7-24.6)

1.9-17.0

  3

17

6.1 (1.7-36.1)

0.0-19.3

  4

20

8.2 (2.6-15.1)

3.8-12.7

  5 (Richest)

15

4.9 (1.7-11.6)

0.9-8.9