Table 3 Factors associated with the level of adherence in participants enrolled in the Food by Prescription program in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 2013

Knowledge of benefits

 Poor

77 (12.8)

201 (33.5)

1

1

 Good

141 (23.5)

181 (30.2)

2.03 (1.44–2.86)*

1.78 (1.22–2.60)*

Knew treatment duration**

 Yes

185 (30.8)

254 (42.3)

1

1

 No

33 (5.5)

128 (21.3)

0.35 (0.23–0.54)*

0.39 (0.24–0.63)*

Prescribed RUF

 ≤ 2 sachets/day

173 (28.8)

257 (42.8)

1

1

 >2 sachets/day

45 (7.5)

125 (20.8)

0.53 (0.36–0.79)*

0.53 (0.33–0.85)*

Appetite test done

 No

63 (10.5)

143 (23.8)

1

1

 Yes

155 (25.8)

239 (39.8)

1.47 (1.02–2.10)*

1.28 (0.85–1.94)

Duration of intake

 <3 months

155 (25.8)

225(37.5)

1

1

 3–4 months

40 (6.6)

81(13.5)

0.71 (0.46–1.10)

0.65 (0.40–1.05)

 ≥4 months

23 (3.8)

76(12.6)

0.43 (0.26–0.73)*

0.38 (0.22–0.68)*

Food security

 Food insecure

108 (18.0)

220 (36.6)

0.72 (0.51–1.01)*

0.80 (0.54–1.17)

 Food secure

110 (18.3)

162 (27.0)

1

1

Knew current weight

 Yes

213 (35.5)

357 (59.5)

1

1

 No

5 (0.8)

25 (4.2)

0.33 (0.12–0.88)*

0.49 (0.16–1.46)

Education

 No school

20 (3.3)

81 (13.5)

1

1

 Primary

72 (12.0)

133 (21.2)

2.19 (1.24–3.86)*

2.69 (1.42–5.09)*

 Secondary

98 (16.3)

137 (22.8)

2.89 (1.66–5.04)*

2.80 (1.48–5.30)*

 Tertiary

28 (4.6)

31 (5.2)

3.65 (1.80–7.42)*

3.41 (1.53–7.58)*

Patients enrolled in

 Hospitals

101 (16.8)

143 (23.8)

1

1

 Health centers

117 (19.5)

239 (39.8)

0.69 (0.49–0.97)*

0.77 (0.52–1.13)

Nutritional status

 SAM

55 (9.2)

128 (21.3)

1

1

 MAM

148 (24.7)

230 (38.3)

1.49 (1.02–2.18)*

0.90 (0.56–1.44)

 Weight loss and symptomatic disease

15 (2.5)

24 (4.0)

1.45 (0.70–2.98)

0.66 (0.29–1.52)