Table 1 Full text meaning of abbreviations, description of time periods for Ebola Virus Disease patients treated at the Kenema Government Hospital Ebola Treatment Center and their respective placement in Fig. 2

CHD: Cadaver Handling Delay

This was the period between the date an EVD patient died while undergoing treatment to the date of burial

Arrow E

DOA

Date of admission of EVD patient

DOB

Date of burial of EVD patient

DDP: Delay in the Discharge of Patient

This was the period between the date an EVD patient was cured to the date he/she was discharged

DOD

Date of death of EVD patient

DOT

This was the date when the first EVD laboratory test was conducted

DOPR

This was the date when an EVD patient that was successfully treated was discharged

DOTR

Date of release of EVD test result

DSO

This was the date when EVD symptom/s were first observed in the patient

DTI: Discharge Testing Interval

This was the time period between the date an EVD patient was cured to the date his/her final laboratory test results were released

HSD: Health seeking delay for all EVD patients irrespective of district of origin

This was the period between the date an EVD patient showed symptoms of EVD to the date he/she was admitted at the KGHETC for treatment irrespective of the district of origin of the EVD patient

Arrow A

HSDKD: Health Seeking Delay for patient residing in Kenema District

This was the period between the date an EVD patient who was residing in Kenema District started showing symptoms of EVD to the date he/she sought treatment at the KGHETC

HSDNK: Health Seeking Delay for patient residing outside Kenema District

This was the period between the date an EVD patient who was not residing in Kenema District started showing symptoms of EVD to the date he/she sought treatment at the KGHETC

LOS: Length of stay

This was the period between the date of admission and date of discharge of the EVD patient

Arrow D

LOSA: Length of Stay for EVD Patient who Survived Treatment

This was the period between an EVD patient started developing EVD symptoms to the date it took for he/she to be successfully treated and discharged from the KGHETC

Arrow B

LSP: Length of Symptomatic Period

This was the period between the date of EVD symptoms onset to the time the date of the first follow-up laboratory test result was obtained prior to the discharge of the patient, as a proxy time point indicating resolution of symptoms

RRD: Return of Result Delay

This was the period between the date of the initial EVD laboratory tests were done to the date of the EVD laboratory test results became available and the patient subsequently admitted

Arrow C