Table 2 Symptom onset situational factors and health system factors of study participants

Time from symptom onset to arrival at hospital

 0 to 3 h

7/86 (8.1)

6/57 (10.5)

13/143 (9.1)

 3 to 6 h

9/86 (10.5)

2/57 (3.5)

11/143 (7.7)

 6 to 12 h

12/86 (14)

7/57 (12.3)

19/143 (13.3)

 12 to 24 h

11/86 (12.8)

10/57 (17.5)

21/143 (14.7)

  > 24 h

47/86 (54.7)

32/57 (56.1)

79/143 (55.2)

Location when symptom occurred

 Home

72/86 (83.7)

49/57 (86)

121/143(84.6)

 Work

7/86 (8.1)

3/57 (5.3)

10/143 (7)

 In transit

3/86 (3.5)

1/57 (1.8)

4/143 (2.8)

 Other

4/86 (4.7)

4/57 (7)

8/143 (5.6)

Presence of bystander at symptom onset(Yes)

78/86 (90.7)

40/57 (70.2)

118/143 (82.5)

First decision taken after stroke onset

 Go to health facility

54/86 (62.8)

15/57 (26.3)

69/143 (48.3)

 Ask family member or relative to help

5/86 (5.8)

18/57 (31.6)

23/143 (16.1)

 Ask friend or neighbours to help

2/86(2.3)

10/57 (17.5)

12/143 (8.4)

 Seek spiritual healing (prayers)

9/86 (10.5)

1/57 (1.8)

10/143 (7)

 Called family doctor

3/86 (3.5)

5/57 (8.8)

8/143 (5.6)

 Others

13/86 (15.1)

8/57 (14)

21/143 (14.7)

Had money at home at symptom onset

 Yes

36/86 (41.9)

27/57 (47.4)

63/143 (44.1)

 No

50/86 (58.1)

30/57 (52.6)

80/143 (55.9)

Means of transport to tertiary facility

 Owned

20/86 (23.3)

15/57 (26.3)

35/143 (24.5)

 Hired

40/86 (46.5)

27/57 (47.4)

67/143 (46.9)

 Government ambulance

26/86 (30.2)

15/57 (26.3)

41/143 (28.7)

Came directly to tertiary hospital

 Yes

15/86 (17.4)

3/57 (5.3)

18/143(12.6)

 No

71/86 (82.6)

54/57 (94.7)

125/143 (87.4

Level of health facility first visited ( N = 125)

 Private clinic

24/71 (33.8)

26/54 (48.1)

50/125 (40)

 Private hospital

13/71 (18.3)

7/54 (13)

20/125 (16)

 HC IV

24/71 (33.8)

12/54 (22.2)

36/125 (28.8)

 HC III

4/71 (5.6)

5/54 (9.3)

9/125 (7.2)

 Other

6/71 (8.5)

4/54 (7.4)

10/125 (8)