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Verjans A, Hooley B, Tani K, Mhalu G, Tediosi F. Cross-sectional study of the burden and determinants of non-medical and opportunity costs of accessing chronic disease care in rural Tanzania. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e080466. [PMID: 38553069 PMCID: PMC10982752 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-080466] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 03/06/2024] [Indexed: 04/02/2024] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Countries in sub-Saharan Africa are seeking to improve access to healthcare through health insurance. However, patients still bear non-medical costs and opportunity costs in terms of lost work days. The burden of these costs is particularly high for people with chronic diseases (CDs) who require regular healthcare. This study quantified the non-medical and opportunity costs faced by patients with CD in Tanzania and identified factors that drive these costs. METHODS From November 2020 to January 2021, we conducted a cross-sectional patient survey at 35 healthcare facilities in rural Tanzania. Using the human capital approach to value the non-medical cost of seeking healthcare, we employed multilevel linear regression to analyse the impact of CDs and health insurance on non-medical costs and negative binomial regression to investigate the factors associated with opportunity costs of illness among patients with CDs. RESULTS Among 1748 patients surveyed, 534 had at least one CD, 20% of which had comorbidities. Patients with CDs incurred significantly higher non-medical costs than other patients, with an average of US$2.79 (SD: 3.36) compared with US$2.03 (SD: 2.82). In addition, they incur a monthly illness-related opportunity cost of US$10.19 (US$0-59.34). Factors associated with higher non-medical costs included multimorbidities, hypertension, health insurance and seeking care at hospitals rather than other facilities. Patients seeking hypertension care at hospitals experienced 35% higher costs compared with those visiting other facilities. Additionally, patients with comorbidities, older age, less education and those requiring medication more frequently lost workdays. CONCLUSION Outpatient care in Tanzania imposes considerable non-medical costs, particularly for people with CDs, besides illness-related opportunity costs. Despite having health insurance, patients with CDs who seek outpatient care in hospitals face higher financial burdens than other patients. Policies to improve the availability and quality of CD care in dispensaries and health centres could reduce these costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anna Verjans
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Brady Hooley
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Kassimu Tani
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
- Ifakara Health Institute, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Grace Mhalu
- Ifakara Health Institute, Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
| | - Fabrizio Tediosi
- Swiss Tropical and Public Health Institute, Allschwil, Switzerland
- University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
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Witts WK, Amu H, Dowou RK, Kwafo FO, Bain LE. Health-related quality of life among adults living with chronic non-communicable diseases in the Ho Municipality of Ghana: a health facility-based cross-sectional study. BMC Public Health 2024; 24:725. [PMID: 38448856 PMCID: PMC10918919 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-024-18143-3] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/03/2023] [Accepted: 02/17/2024] [Indexed: 03/08/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Morbidity and mortality rates from chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs) are increasing globally. In Ghana, CNCDs account for 43% of all deaths. We examined the Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL) and associated factors among adults living with CNCDs in the Ho Municipality. METHODS This was a health facility-based descriptive cross-sectional study among 432 adults living with cancer, diabetes, chronic kidney disease (CKD), stroke, and hypertension in the Ho Municipality of Ghana. The study adopted the EQ-5D-5L instrument and the Ugandan value set to compute respondents' HRQoL index. Quantile regression models were used in analysing the data with STATA v17.0 at 95% Confidence Intervals, and statistical significance set at p < 0.05. RESULTS 63.7% of our respondents reported having a problem across the five dimensions of the EQ-5D-5L. The most problems were reported in the dimensions "Anxiety/Depression" (94.4%) and "Pain/Discomfort" (91.4%). Divorced/separated respondents (aOR=-0.52, 95% CI=-0.71, -0.33) and those living with comorbidities (aOR=-0.95, 95% CI=-0.15, -0.04,) were less likely to report high index for HRQoL. However, respondents diagnosed with CKD (aOR = 0.26, 95% CI = 0.10, 0.42), diabetes (aOR = 0.28, 95% CI = 0.11, 0.45), hypertension (aOR = 0.35, 95% CI = 0.19, 0.50) and stroke (aOR = 0.26, 95% CI = 0.11, 0.40) were more likely to report higher index than those diagnosed with cancer. CONCLUSION Our study revealed elevated proportions of reported problems in the "Anxiety/Depression" and "Pain/Discomfort" dimensions, indicating noteworthy concerns in these areas of HRQoL. The prevalent issues reported across HRQoL dimensions are cause for concern, posing potential exacerbation of health conditions. We advocate for collaborative efforts from the Ministry of Health, Ghana Health Service, and relevant stakeholders to scrutinize and implement interventions targeting social and psychological factors. These efforts should specifically address contributors to diminished health-related quality of life, particularly among less educated, divorced, and comorbid individuals.
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Affiliation(s)
- William Kwame Witts
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, F.N. Binka School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Hohoe, Ghana.
| | - Hubert Amu
- Department of Population and Behavioural Sciences, F.N. Binka School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Hohoe, Ghana
| | - Robert Kokou Dowou
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, F.N. Binka School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Hohoe, Ghana
| | - Frank Oppong Kwafo
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, F.N. Binka School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Hohoe, Ghana
| | - Luchuo Engelbert Bain
- Department of Psychology, Faculty of Humanities, University of Johannesburg, Johannesburg, Auckland Park, South Africa
- International Development Research Centre, IDRC, Ottawa, Canada
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Ahmed S, Cao Y, Wang Z, Coates MM, Twea P, Ma M, Chiwanda Banda J, Wroe E, Bai L, Watkins DA, Su Y. Service readiness for the management of non-communicable diseases in publicly financed facilities in Malawi: findings from the 2019 Harmonised Health Facility Assessment census survey. BMJ Open 2024; 14:e072511. [PMID: 38176873 PMCID: PMC10773330 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2023-072511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2023] [Accepted: 11/08/2023] [Indexed: 01/06/2024] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are rising in low-income and middle-income countries, including Malawi. To inform policy-makers and planners on the preparedness of the Malawian healthcare system to respond to NCDs, we estimated NCD service readiness in publicly financed healthcare facilities in Malawi. METHODS We analysed data from 564 facilities surveyed in the 2019 Harmonised Health Facility Assessment, including 512 primary healthcare (PHC) and 52 secondary and tertiary care (STC) facilities. To characterise service readiness, applying the law of minimum, we estimated the percentage of facilities with functional equipment and unexpired medicines required to provide NCD services. Further, we estimated permanently unavailable items to identify service readiness bottlenecks. RESULTS Fewer than 40% of PHC facilities were ready to deliver services for each of the 14 NCDs analysed. Insulin and beclomethasone inhalers had the lowest stock levels at PHC facilities (6% and 8%, respectively). Only 17% of rural and community hospitals (RCHs) have liver and kidney diagnostics. STC facilities had varying service readiness, ranging from 27% for managing acute diabetes complications to 94% for chronic type 2 diabetes management. Only 38% of STC facilities were ready to manage chronic heart failure. Oral pain medicines were widely available at all levels of health facilities; however, only 22% of RCHs and 29% of STCs had injectable morphine or pethidine. Beclomethasone was never available at 74% of PHC and 29% of STC facilities. CONCLUSION Publicly financed facilities in Malawi are generally unprepared to provide NCD services, especially at the PHC level. Targeted investments in PHC can substantially improve service readiness for chronic NCD conditions in local communities and enable STC to respond to acute NCD complications and more complex NCD cases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sali Ahmed
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Yanjia Cao
- Department of Geography, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Zicheng Wang
- Department of Epidemiology, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Matthew M Coates
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Pakwanja Twea
- Bergen Centre for Ethics and Priority Setting, University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway
- Department of Planning and Policy Development, Ministry of Health, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Mingyang Ma
- Department of Biostatistics, Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Jonathan Chiwanda Banda
- Curative and Medical Rehabilitation Services, Ministry of Health, lilongwe, Malawi
- Department of Community and Environmental Health, Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi
| | - Emily Wroe
- Department of Medicine, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts, USA
| | - Lan Bai
- Department of Public Administration, Nanjing University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - David A Watkins
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
- Department of Medicine, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
| | - Yanfang Su
- Department of Global Health, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA
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Arhin K, Asante-Darko D. Performance evaluation of national healthcare systems in the prevention and treatment of non-communicable diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0294653. [PMID: 37972071 PMCID: PMC10653434 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0294653] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2023] [Accepted: 11/06/2023] [Indexed: 11/19/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) remain a major public health concern globally, threatening the achievement of sustainable development goal 3.4 (SDG 3.4), which seeks to reduce premature NCD-related deaths by one-third by 2030. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), improving the efficiency of NCD spending (i.e., maximizing the impact of every dollar spent on NCDs) is one of the strategic approaches for achieving SDG target 3.4. This study aims to assess the efficiency and productivity of NCDs spending in 34 sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries from 2015 to 2019. METHODS The study employed the data envelopment analysis (DEA) double-bootstrap truncated and Tobit regressions, one-stage stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) model, the Malmquist productivity index (MPI), and spatial autocorrelation analysis to estimate NCDs spending efficiency, identify the context-specific environmental factors that influence NCDs spending efficiency, evaluate total productivity change and identify its components, and assess the spatial interdependence of the efficiency scores. RESULTS The estimated average DEA bias-corrected NCD spending efficiency score was 87.3% (95% CI: 86.2-88.5). Additionally, smoking per capita, solid fuel pollution, alcohol use, governance quality, urbanization, GDP per capita, external funding for NCDs, and private domestic funding for NCDs healthcare services were found to be significantly associated with NCDs spending efficiency. The study also revealed a decline of 3.2% in the MPI, driven by a 10.6% technical regress. Although all countries registered growth in efficiency, except for the Central Africa Republic and DR Congo, the growth in efficiency was overshadowed by the decline in technical change. Global Moran's I test indicated the existence of significant positive spatial autocorrelation in the efficiency of NCDs spending across SSA countries. CONCLUSION The study underscores the importance of efficient use of resources in NCDs treatment and prevention and increased investment in NCDs research and development in achieving the SDG target 3.4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kwadwo Arhin
- Department of Accounting and Finance, Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, Accra, Ghana
| | - Disraeli Asante-Darko
- Department of Management Science, Ghana Institute of Management and Public Administration, Accra, Ghana
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Anto EO, Boadu WIO, Korsah EE, Ansah E, Adua E, Frimpong J, Nyarkoa P, Tamakloe VCKT, Acheampong E, Asamoah EA, Opoku S, Afrifa-Yamoah E, Annani-Akollor ME, Obirikorang C. Unrecognized hypertension among a general adult Ghanaian population: An urban community-based cross-sectional study of prevalence and putative risk factors of lifestyle and obesity indices. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 3:e0001973. [PMID: 37224164 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0001973] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/24/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 05/26/2023]
Abstract
Hypertension (HTN) is the leading cause of cardiovascular diseases. Nevertheless, most individuals in developing countries are unaware of their blood pressure status. We determined the prevalence of unrecognized hypertension and its association with lifestyle factors and new obesity indices among the adult population. This community-based study was conducted among 1288 apparently healthy adults aged 18-80 years in the Ablekuma North Municipality, Ghana. Sociodemographic, lifestyle characteristics, blood pressure and anthropometric indices were obtained. The prevalence of unrecognized HTN was 18.4% (237 / 1288). The age groups 45-54 years [aOR = 2.29, 95% CI (1.33-3.95), p = 0.003] and 55-79 years [aOR = 3.25, 95% CI (1.61-6.54), p = 0.001], being divorced [aOR = 3.02 95% CI (1.33-6.90), p = 0.008], weekly [aOR = 4.10, 95% CI (1.77-9.51), p = 0.001] and daily alcohol intake [aOR = 5.62, 95% CI (1.26-12.236), p = 0.028] and no exercise or at most once a week [aOR = 2.25, 95% CI (1.56-3.66), p = 0.001] were independently associated with HTN. Among males, the fourth quartile (Q4) of both body roundness index (BRI) and waist to height ratio (WHtR) [aOR = 5.19, 95% CI (1.05-25.50), p = 0.043] were independent determinants of unrecognized HTN. Among females, the third quartile (Q3) [aOR = 7.96, 95% CI (1.51-42.52), p = 0.015] and Q4 [aOR = 9.87 95% CI (1.92-53.31), p = 0.007] of abdominal volume index (AVI), the Q3 of both BRI and WHtR [aOR = 6.07, 95% CI (1.05-34.94), p = 0.044] and Q4 of both BRI and WHtR [aOR = 9.76, 95% CI (1.74-54.96), p = 0.010] were independent risk factors of HTN. Overall, BRI (AUC = 0.724) and WHtR (AUC = 0.724) for males and AVI (AUC = 0.728), WHtR (AUC = 0.703) and BRI (AUC = 0.703) for females yielded a better discriminatory power for predicting unrecognized HTN. Unrecognized hypertension is common among the apparently healthy adults. Increased awareness of its risk factors, screening, and promoting lifestyle modification is needed to prevent the onset of hypertension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Enoch Odame Anto
- Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Department of Medical Diagnostics, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
- School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Joondalup Drive, Perth, Australia
- Centre for Precision Health, ECU Strategic Research Centre, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia
| | - Wina Ivy Ofori Boadu
- Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Department of Medical Diagnostics, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Emmanuel Ekow Korsah
- Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Department of Medical Diagnostics, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Ezekiel Ansah
- Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Department of Medical Diagnostics, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Eric Adua
- Rural Clinical School, Medicine and Health, University of New South Wales, Sydney, NSW Australia
| | - Joseph Frimpong
- Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Department of Medical Diagnostics, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Patience Nyarkoa
- Department of Physiology, School of Medicine and Dentistry, College of Health Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | - Emmanuel Acheampong
- Centre for Precision Health, ECU Strategic Research Centre, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia
| | - Evans Adu Asamoah
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, College of Health Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Stephen Opoku
- Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Department of Medical Diagnostics, College of Health Sciences, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | | | - Max Efui Annani-Akollor
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, College of Health Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
| | - Christian Obirikorang
- Department of Molecular Medicine, School of Medicine and Dentistry, College of Health Science, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi, Ghana
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Mulugeta TK, Kassa DH. Readiness of the primary health care units and associated factors for the management of hypertension and type II diabetes mellitus in Sidama, Ethiopia. PeerJ 2022; 10:e13797. [PMID: 36042860 PMCID: PMC9420406 DOI: 10.7717/peerj.13797] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/29/2022] [Accepted: 07/06/2022] [Indexed: 01/18/2023] Open
Abstract
Background In low-income nations such as Ethiopia, noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) are becoming more common. The Ethiopian Ministry of Health has prioritized NCD prevention, early diagnosis, and management. However, research on the readiness of public health facilities to address NCDs, particularly hypertension and type II diabetes mellitus, is limited. Methods The study used a multistage cluster sampling method and a health facility-based cross-sectional study design. A total of 83 health facilities were evaluated based on WHO's Service Availability and Readiness Assessment (SARA) tool to investigate the availability of services and the readiness of the primary health care unit (PHCU) to manage type II diabetes and Hypertension. Trained data collectors interviewed with PHCU head or NCD focal persons. The study tried to investigate (1) the availability of basic amenities and the four domains: staff and guidelines, basic equipment, diagnostic materials, and essential medicines used to manage DM and HPN, (2) the readiness of the PHCU to manage DM and HPN. The data were processed by using SPSS version 24. Descriptive statistics, including frequency and percentage, inferential statistics like the chi-square test, and logistic regression models were used to analyze the data. Results Of the 82 health facilities, only 29% and 28% of the PHCU identified as ready to manage HPN and DM. Facility type, facility location, presence of guidelines, trained staff, groups of antihypertensive and antidiabetic medicines had a significant impact (P < 0.05) on the readiness of the PHCU to manage HPN and DM at a 0.05 level of significance. Facilities located in urban were 8.2 times more likely to be ready to manage HPN cases than facilities located in rural (AOR = 8.2, 95% CI [2.4-28.5]) and P < 0.05. Conclusion and recommendation The results identified comparatively poor and deprived readiness to offer HPN and DM services at lower-level health facilities(health centers). Equipping the lower-level health facilities with screening and diagnostic materials, essential medicines, and provision of basic training for the health care providers and NCD guidelines should be available, especially in the lower health care facilities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tigist Kebede Mulugeta
- School of Nutrition, Food Science and Technology, Department of Human Nutrition Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia
- School of Public Health, Department of Public Health Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia
| | - Dejene Hailu Kassa
- School of Public Health, Department of Public Health Hawassa University, Hawassa, Ethiopia
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Eze P, Lawani LO, Agu UJ, Acharya Y. Catastrophic health expenditure in sub-Saharan Africa: systematic review and meta-analysis. Bull World Health Organ 2022; 100:337-351J. [PMID: 35521041 PMCID: PMC9047424 DOI: 10.2471/blt.21.287673] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/02/2021] [Revised: 02/24/2022] [Accepted: 02/28/2022] [Indexed: 11/27/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective To estimate the incidence of, and trends in, catastrophic health expenditure in sub-Saharan Africa. Methods We systematically reviewed the scientific and grey literature to identify population-based studies on catastrophic health expenditure in sub-Saharan Africa published between 2000 and 2021. We performed a meta-analysis using two definitions of catastrophic health expenditure: 10% of total household expenditure and 40% of household non-food expenditure. The results of individual studies were pooled by pairwise meta-analysis using the random-effects model. Findings We identified 111 publications covering a total of 1 040 620 households across 31 sub-Saharan African countries. Overall, the pooled annual incidence of catastrophic health expenditure was 16.5% (95% confidence interval, CI: 12.9-20.4; 50 datapoints; 462 151 households; I 2 = 99.9%) for a threshold of 10% of total household expenditure and 8.7% (95% CI: 7.2-10.3; 84 datapoints; 795 355 households; I 2 = 99.8%) for a threshold of 40% of household non-food expenditure. Countries in central and southern sub-Saharan Africa had the highest and lowest incidence, respectively. A trend analysis found that, after initially declining in the 2000s, the incidence of catastrophic health expenditure in sub-Saharan Africa increased between 2010 and 2020. The incidence among people affected by specific diseases, such as noncommunicable diseases, HIV/AIDS and tuberculosis, was generally higher. Conclusion Although data on catastrophic health expenditure for some countries were sparse, the data available suggest that a non-negligible share of households in sub-Saharan Africa experienced catastrophic expenditure when accessing health-care services. Stronger financial protection measures are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paul Eze
- Department of Health Policy and Administration, 504A Donald H. Ford Building, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, PA 16802, United States of America
| | - Lucky Osaheni Lawani
- Institute of Health Policy, Management & Evaluation, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
| | - Ujunwa Justina Agu
- Department of Community Medicine, Enugu State University Teaching Hospital, Parklane, Nigeria
| | - Yubraj Acharya
- Department of Health Policy and Administration, 504A Donald H. Ford Building, Pennsylvania State University, University Park, Pennsylvania, PA 16802, United States of America
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Glenn BE, Espira LM, Larson MC, Larson PS. Ambient air pollution and non-communicable respiratory illness in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review of the literature. Environ Health 2022; 21:40. [PMID: 35422005 PMCID: PMC9009030 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-022-00852-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/21/2021] [Accepted: 04/04/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Aerosol pollutants are known to raise the risk of development of non-communicable respiratory diseases (NCRDs) such as asthma, chronic bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, and allergic rhinitis. Sub-Saharan Africa's rapid pace of urbanization, economic expansion, and population growth raise concerns of increasing incidence of NCRDs. This research characterizes the state of research on pollution and NCRDs in the 46 countries of Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA). This research systematically reviewed the literature on studies of asthma; chronic bronchitis; allergic rhinitis; and air pollutants such as particulate matter, ozone, NOx, and sulfuric oxide. METHODS We searched three major databases (PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus) using the key words "asthma", "chronic bronchitis", "allergic rhinitis", and "COPD" with "carbon monoxide (CO)", "sulfuric oxide (SO)", "ozone (O3)", "nitrogen dioxide (NO2)", and "particulate matter (PM)", restricting the search to the 46 countries that comprise SSA. Only papers published in scholarly journals with a defined health outcome in individuals and which tested associations with explicitly measured or modelled air exposures were considered for inclusion. All candidate papers were entered into a database for review. RESULTS We found a total of 362 unique research papers in the initial search of the three databases. Among these, 14 met the inclusion criteria. These papers comprised studies from just five countries. Nine papers were from South Africa; two from Malawi; and one each from Ghana, Namibia, and Nigeria. Most studies were cross-sectional. Exposures to ambient air pollutants were measured using spectrometry and chromatography. Some studies created composite measures of air pollution using a range of data layers. NCRD outcomes were measured by self-reported health status and measures of lung function (spirometry). Populations of interest were primarily schoolchildren, though a few studies focused on secondary school students and adults. CONCLUSIONS The paucity of research on NCRDs and ambient air pollutant exposures is pronounced within the African continent. While capacity to measure air quality in SSA is high, studies targeting NCRDs should work to draw attention to questions of outdoor air pollution and health. As the climate changes and SSA economies expand and countries urbanize, these questions will become increasingly important.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bailey E. Glenn
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA USA
| | - Leon M. Espira
- Center for Global Health Equity, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, USA
| | | | - Peter S. Larson
- Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Public Health and Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts Amherst, Amherst, MA USA
- Social Environment and Health Program, Survey Research Center, Institute for Social Research, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI USA
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Public Health, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI USA
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Tang S, Yao L, Li Z, Yang T, Liu M, Gong Y, Xu Y, Ye C. How Do Intergenerational Economic Support, Emotional Support and Multimorbidity Affect the Catastrophic Health Expenditures of Middle-Aged and Elderly Families?–Evidence From CHARLS2018. Front Public Health 2022; 10:872974. [PMID: 35462809 PMCID: PMC9024169 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.872974] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/16/2022] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Objectives The elderly face multiple vulnerabilities such as health, economy and society, and are prone to catastrophic health expenditures. This study aims to analyze the impact of children's intergenerational economic support, emotional support, and illness on the catastrophic health expenditures of middle-aged and elderly families. Methods Using China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS 2018) data to calculate the catastrophic health expenditure of Chinese households as the dependent variable. Taking children's intergenerational economic support, emotional support and multimorbidity as core independent variables, gender, age, marital status, medical insurance and other variables as control variables, and perform logistic regression analysis. According to the heterogeneity analysis of age and gender, the impact of intergenerational economic support, emotional support and multimorbidity on the catastrophic health expenditure of middle-aged and elderly families is explored. Results When catastrophic health expenditures occur in middle-aged and elderly families, the children's intergenerational economic support will increase significantly, especially in families with members aged 60–74. Children's emotional support can effectively reduce the risk of catastrophic health expenditures for middle-aged and elderly families. Compared with children's intergenerational economic support and emotional support, the impact of multimorbidity on the catastrophic health expenditures of middle-aged and elderly families is the most significant. Suffering from multimorbidity can increase the risk of catastrophic health expenditures for middle-aged and elderly families, especially families with male members suffering from multiple diseases. Conclusions It is recommended that we should do a good job in popularizing the knowledge of chronic diseases to minimize the occurrence of multimorbidity. The government should establish group medical insurance related to chronic disease diagnosis. According to the severity of the disease or the special circumstances of the patient, the level of medical insurance reimbursement is divided in detail, especially for chronic disease clinics and drug reimbursement. Children should be encouraged to strengthen the emotional connection and effective care of the elderly, focusing on the elderly 60–74 years old, in order to reduce their care pressure and maintain the physical and mental health of the elderly.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shaoliang Tang
- School of Health Economics and Management, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Ling Yao
- School of Health Economics and Management, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
- *Correspondence: Ling Yao
| | - Zhengjun Li
- Institute of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Tongling Yang
- School of Health Economics and Management, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Meixian Liu
- School of Health Economics and Management, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Ying Gong
- School of Health Economics and Management, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Yun Xu
- School of Health Economics and Management, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
| | - Chaoyu Ye
- School of Health Economics and Management, Nanjing University of Chinese Medicine, Nanjing, China
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Rudasingwa M, Yeboah E, Ridde V, Bonnet E, De Allegri M, Muula AS. How equitable is health spending on curative services and institutional delivery in Malawi? Evidence from a quasi-longitudinal benefit incidence analysis. Int J Equity Health 2022; 21:25. [PMID: 35180861 PMCID: PMC8856874 DOI: 10.1186/s12939-022-01624-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/21/2021] [Accepted: 01/24/2022] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Malawi is one of a handful of countries that had resisted the implementation of user fees, showing a commitment to providing free healthcare to its population even before the concept of Universal Health Coverage (UHC) acquired global popularity. Several evaluations have investigated the effects of key policies, such as the essential health package or performance-based financing, in sustaining and expanding access to quality health services in the country. Understanding the distributional impact of health spending over time due to these policies has received limited attention. Our study fills this knowledge gap by assessing the distributional incidence of public and overall health spending between 2004 and 2016. Methods We relied on a Benefit Incidence Analysis (BIA) to measure the socioeconomic inequality of public and overall health spending on curative services and institutional delivery across different health facility typologies. We used data from household surveys and National Health Accounts. We used a concentration index (CI) to determine the health benefits accrued by each socioeconomic group. Results Socioeconomic inequality in both public and overall health spending substantially decreased over time, with higher inequality observed in overall spending, non-public health facilities, curative health services, and at higher levels of care. Between 2004 and 2016, the inequality in public spending on curative services decreased from a CI of 0.037 (SE 0.013) to a CI of 0.004 (SE 0.011). Whiles, it decreased from a CI of 0.084 (SE 0.014) to a CI of 0.068 (SE 0.015) for overall spending in the same period. For institutional delivery, inequality in public and overall spending decreased between 2004 and 2016 from a CI of 0.032 (SE 0.028) to a CI of -0.057 (SE 0.014) and from a CI of 0.036 (SE 0.022) to a CI of 0.028 (SE 0.018), respectively. Conclusions Through its free healthcare policy, Malawi has reduced socioeconomic inequality in health spending over time, but some challenges still need to be addressed to achieve a truly egalitarian health system. Our findings indicate a need to increase public funding for the health sector to ensure access to care and financial protection. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12939-022-01624-5.
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Affiliation(s)
- Martin Rudasingwa
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, University Hospital & Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Edmund Yeboah
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, University Hospital & Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Valéry Ridde
- CEPED, Institute for Research on Sustainable Development, IRD-Université de Paris, ERL INSERM SAGESUD, Paris, France
| | - Emmanuel Bonnet
- IRD, UMR 215 Prodig, CNRS, Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, AgroParisTech, 5, Cours des Humanités, F-93 322, Aubervilliers, Cedex, France
| | - Manuela De Allegri
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, University Hospital & Medical Faculty, Heidelberg University, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Adamson Sinjani Muula
- School of Public Health and Family Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Malawi, Blantyre, Malawi. .,Kamuzu University of Health Sciences, Blantyre, Malawi.
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11
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Bukenya D, Van Hout MC, Shayo EH, Kitabye I, Junior BM, Kasidi JR, Birungi J, Jaffar S, Seeley J. Integrated healthcare services for HIV, diabetes mellitus and hypertension in selected health facilities in Kampala and Wakiso districts, Uganda: A qualitative methods study. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 2:e0000084. [PMID: 36962287 PMCID: PMC10021152 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0000084] [Citation(s) in RCA: 11] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/14/2021] [Accepted: 11/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Health policies in Africa are shifting towards integrated care services for chronic conditions, but in parts of Africa robust evidence on effectiveness is limited. We assessed the integration of vertical health services for HIV, diabetes and hypertension provided in a feasibility study within five health facilities in Uganda. From November 2018 to January 2020, we conducted a series of three in-depth interviews with 31, 29 and 24 service users attending the integrated clinics within Kampala and Wakiso districts. Ten healthcare workers were interviewed twice during the same period. Interviews were conducted in Luganda, translated into English, and analysed thematically using the concepts of availability, affordability and acceptability. All participants reported shortages of diabetes and hypertension drugs and diagnostic equipment prior to the establishment of the integrated clinics. These shortages were mostly addressed in the integrated clinics through a drugs buffer. Integration did not affect the already good provision of anti-retroviral therapy. The cost of transport reduced because of fewer clinic visits after integration. Healthcare workers reported that the main cause of non-adherence among users with diabetes and hypertension was poverty. Participants with diabetes and hypertension reported they could not afford private clinical investigations or purchase drugs prior to the establishment of the integrated clinics. The strengthening of drug supply for non-communicable conditions in the integrated clinics was welcomed. Most participants observed that the integrated clinic reduced feelings of stigma for those living with HIV. Sharing the clinic afforded privacy about an individual's condition, and users were comfortable with the waiting room sitting arrangement. We found that integrating non-communicable disease and HIV care had benefits for all users. Integrated care could be an effective model of care if service users have access to a reliable supply of basic medicines for both HIV and non-communicable disease conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marie-Claire Van Hout
- Public Health Institute, Liverpool John Moores University, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | | | - Isaac Kitabye
- MRC/UVRI & LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
| | | | | | | | - Shabbar Jaffar
- Department of International Public Health, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, United Kingdom
| | - Janet Seeley
- MRC/UVRI & LSHTM Uganda Research Unit, Entebbe, Uganda
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, United Kingdom
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12
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Kabajulizi J, Darko F. Do Non-Communicable Diseases Influence Sustainable Development in Sub-Saharan Africa? A Panel Autoregressive Distributive Lag (ARDL) Model. Health Policy Plan 2021; 37:337-348. [PMID: 34718589 DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czab131] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/14/2021] [Revised: 10/15/2021] [Accepted: 10/28/2021] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
The burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs) in Sub-Saharan Africa has been on the surge during the last two decades. This study examines the relationship between NCDs, measured by disability adjusted life years (DALYs), and sustainable development in Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries. We adopt a panel Autoregressive Distributed Lag model to evaluate the association between NCDs and sustainability of development, alternately measured by adjusted net savings and gross domestic savings, in 24 SSA countries, from 1990 to 2017. The results show that NCDs adversely affect sustainable development in the long run. The findings demonstrate an urgent need to mitigate the rapidly rising burden of NCDs. We argue that reducing the current trend of NCDs in the sub-region is necessary for countries to be on a sustainable development trajectory.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judith Kabajulizi
- School of Economics, Finance and Accounting, and Research Centre for Corporate and Financial Integrity, Coventry University, Priory Street, Coventry, CV1 5FB, United Kingdom
| | - Francis Darko
- School of Economics, Finance and Accounting, Coventry University, Priory Street, Coventry, CV1 5FB, United Kingdom
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13
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Ryan-Coker MFD, Davies J, Rinaldi G, Hasselberg M, Marke DH, Necchi M, Haghparast-Bidgoli H. Economic burden of road traffic injuries in sub-Saharan Africa: a systematic review of existing literature. BMJ Open 2021; 11:e048231. [PMID: 34526339 PMCID: PMC8444250 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2020-048231] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE This systematic review aims to explore and synthesise existing literature on the direct and indirect costs from road traffic injuries (RTIs) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), the quality of existing evidence, methods used to estimate and report these costs, and the factors that drive the costs. METHODOLOGY MEDLINE, SCOPUS, ProQuest Central, Web of Science, Global Index Medicus, Embase, World Bank Group e-Library, Econlit, Google Scholar and WHO webpages were searched for relevant literature. References of selected papers were also examined for related articles. Screening was done following the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. Articles were included in this review if they were published by March 2019, written in English, conducted in SSA and reported original findings on the cost of illness or economic burden of RTIs. The results were systematically examined, and the quality assessed by two reviewers using a modified Consolidated Health Economic Evaluation Reporting Standards (CHEERS) checklist. RESULTS Eleven studies met the inclusion criteria. RTIs can cost between INT$119 and 178 634 per injury and INT$486 and 12 845 per hospitalisation. Findings show variability in costing methods and inadequacies in the quality of existing evidence. Prolonged hospital stays, surgical sundries and severity of injury were the most common factors associated with cost. CONCLUSION While available data are limited, evidence shows that the economic burden of RTIs in SSA is high. Poor quality of existing evidence and heterogeneity in costing methods limit the generalisability of costs reported.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcella Farrelle Dorothea Ryan-Coker
- Emergency Hospital, Goderich Surgical Centre, Freetown, Sierra Leone
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, Faculty of Population Health Sciences, London, UK
| | - Justine Davies
- Institute of Applied Health Research, University of Birmingham, Birmingham, UK
| | | | - Marie Hasselberg
- Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institute, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Dennis H Marke
- Emergency Hospital, Goderich Surgical Centre, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Marco Necchi
- Emergency Hospital, Goderich Surgical Centre, Freetown, Sierra Leone
| | - Hassan Haghparast-Bidgoli
- Institute for Global Health, University College London, Faculty of Population Health Sciences, London, UK
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14
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Tusubira AK, Nalwadda CK, Akiteng AR, Hsieh E, Ngaruiya C, Rabin TL, Katahoire A, Hawley NL, Kalyesubula R, Ssinabulya I, Schwartz JI, Armstrong-Hough M. Social Support for Self-Care: Patient Strategies for Managing Diabetes and Hypertension in Rural Uganda. Ann Glob Health 2021; 87:86. [PMID: 34458110 PMCID: PMC8378074 DOI: 10.5334/aogh.3308] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/03/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Low-income countries suffer a growing burden of non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Self-care practices are crucial for successfully managing NCDs to prevent complications. However, little is known about how patients practice self-care in resource-limited settings. Objective We sought to understand self-care efforts and their facilitators among patients with diabetes and hypertension in rural Uganda. Methods Between April and June 2019, we conducted a cross-sectional qualitative study among adult patients from outpatient NCD clinics at three health facilities in Uganda. We conducted in-depth interviews exploring self-care practices for hypertension and/or diabetes and used content analysis to identify emergent themes. Results Nineteen patients participated. Patients said they preferred conventional medicines as their first resort, but often used traditional medicines to mitigate the impact of inconsistent access to prescribed medicines or as a supplement to those medicines. Patients adopted a wide range of vernacular practices to supplement treatment or replace unavailable diagnostic tests, such as tasting urine to gauge blood-sugar level. Finally, patients sought and received both instrumental and emotional support for self-care activities from networks of family and peers. Patients saw their children as their most reliable source of support facilitating self-care, especially as a source of money for medicines, transport and home necessities. Conclusion Patients valued conventional medicines but engaged in varied self-care practices. They depended upon networks of social support from family and peers to facilitate self-care. Interventions to improve self-care may be more effective if they improve access to prescribed medicines and engage or enhance patients' social support networks.
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Affiliation(s)
- Andrew K. Tusubira
- Uganda Initiative for Integrated Management of Non-Communicable Diseases, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Christine K. Nalwadda
- Department of Community Health and Behavioural Sciences, Makerere University, College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Ann R. Akiteng
- Uganda Initiative for Integrated Management of Non-Communicable Diseases, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Evelyn Hsieh
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale Network for Global Non-Communicable Diseases, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Christine Ngaruiya
- Yale Network for Global Non-Communicable Diseases, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Tracy L. Rabin
- Uganda Initiative for Integrated Management of Non-Communicable Diseases, Kampala, Uganda
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale Network for Global Non-Communicable Diseases, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Anne Katahoire
- Child Health and Development Centre, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Nicola L. Hawley
- Yale Network for Global Non-Communicable Diseases, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
- Department of Chronic Disease Epidemiology, Yale School of Public Health, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Robert Kalyesubula
- Departments of Physiology and Internal Medicine, Makerere College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
- African Community Center for Social Sustainability (ACCESS), Nakaseke, Uganda
| | - Isaac Ssinabulya
- Uganda Initiative for Integrated Management of Non-Communicable Diseases, Kampala, Uganda
- Uganda Heart Institute, Mulago Hospital Complex, Kampala, Uganda
- Department of Internal Medicine, Makerere College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Jeremy I. Schwartz
- Uganda Initiative for Integrated Management of Non-Communicable Diseases, Kampala, Uganda
- Department of Internal Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA
- Yale Network for Global Non-Communicable Diseases, Yale University, New Haven, CT, USA
| | - Mari Armstrong-Hough
- Department of Social & Behavioral Sciences, School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY, USA
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Global Public Health, New York University, New York, NY USA
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15
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Olowu A, Kachala R, Bamigbade O, Olowu O, Chibeza F. Comparative Analysis of Rural Health Demographics in 2 East African Communities During Medical Camps: Volunteers' Perspectives'. J Prim Care Community Health 2021; 12:21501327211035095. [PMID: 34338078 PMCID: PMC8326616 DOI: 10.1177/21501327211035095] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022] Open
Abstract
Malawian and Zambian governments have made efforts to improve healthcare for rural dwellers but possible differences or similarities in health demographics may inform targeted interventions and volunteers may have a greater role to play in improving health outcomes.
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Amu H, Darteh EKM, Tarkang EE, Kumi-Kyereme A. Management of chronic non-communicable diseases in Ghana: a qualitative study using the chronic care model. BMC Public Health 2021; 21:1120. [PMID: 34116657 PMCID: PMC8196497 DOI: 10.1186/s12889-021-11170-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2020] [Accepted: 05/26/2021] [Indexed: 11/10/2022] Open
Abstract
Background While the burden and mortality from chronic non-communicable diseases (CNCDs) have reached epidemic proportions in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), decision-makers and individuals still consider CNCDs to be infrequent and, therefore, do not pay the needed attention to their management. We, therefore, explored the practices and challenges associated with the management of CNCDs by patients and health professionals. Methods This was a qualitative study among 82 CNCD patients and 30 health professionals. Face-to-face in-depth interviews were used in collecting data from the participants. Data collected were analysed using thematic analysis. Results Experiences of health professionals regarding CNCD management practices involved general assessments such as education of patients, and specific practices based on type and stage of CNCDs presented. Patients’ experiences mainly centred on self-management practices which comprised self-restrictions, exercise, and the use of anthropometric equipment to monitor health status at home. Inadequate logistics, work-related stress due to heavy workload, poor utility supply, and financial incapability of patients to afford the cost of managing their conditions were challenges that militated against the effective management of CNCDs. Conclusions A myriad of challenges inhibits the effective management of CNCDs. To accelerate progress towards meeting the Sustainable Development Goal 3 on reducing premature mortality from CNCDs, the Ghana Health Service and management of the respective hospitals should ensure improved utility supply, adequate staff motivation, and regular in-service training. A chronic care management policy should also be implemented in addition to the review of the country’s National Health Insurance Scheme (NHIS) by the Ministry of Health and the National Health Insurance Authority to cover the management of all CNCDs. Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-021-11170-4.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hubert Amu
- Department of Population and Behavioural Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Hohoe, Ghana. .,Department of Population and Health, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana.
| | | | - Elvis Enowbeyang Tarkang
- Department of Population and Behavioural Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Health and Allied Sciences, Hohoe, Ghana
| | - Akwasi Kumi-Kyereme
- Department of Population and Health, University of Cape Coast, Cape Coast, Ghana
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Abstract
OBJECTIVE Sub-Saharan Africa faces twin epidemics of HIV and noncommunicable diseases including hypertension. Integrating hypertension care into chronic HIV care is a global priority, but cost estimates are lacking. In the SEARCH Study, we performed population-level HIV/hypertension testing, and offered integrated streamlined chronic care. Here, we estimate costs for integrated hypertension/HIV care for HIV-positive individuals, and costs for hypertension care for HIV-negative individuals in the same clinics. DESIGN Microcosting analysis of healthcare expenditures within Ugandan HIV clinics. METHODS SEARCH (NCT: 01864603) conducted community health campaigns for diagnosis and linkage to care for both HIV and hypertension. HIV-positive patients received hypertension/HIV care jointly including blood pressure monitoring and medications; HIV-negative patients received hypertension care at the same clinics. Within 10 Ugandan study communities during 2015-2016, we estimated incremental annual per-patient hypertension care costs using micro-costing techniques, time-and-motion personnel studies, and administrative/clinical records review. RESULTS Overall, 70 HIV-positive and 2355 HIV-negative participants received hypertension care. For HIV-positive participants, average incremental cost of hypertension care was $6.29 per person per year, a 2.1% marginal increase over prior estimates for HIV care alone. For HIV-negative participants, hypertension care cost $11.39 per person per year, a 3.8% marginal increase over HIV care costs. Key costs for HIV-positive patients included hypertension medications ($6.19 per patient per year; 98% of total) and laboratory testing ($0.10 per patient per year; 2%). Key costs for HIV-negative patients included medications ($5.09 per patient per year; 45%) and clinic staff salaries ($3.66 per patient per year; 32%). CONCLUSION For only 2-4% estimated additional costs, hypertension care was added to HIV care, and also expanded to all HIV-negative patients in prototypic Ugandan clinics, demonstrating substantial synergy. Our results should encourage accelerated scale-up of hypertension care into existing clinics.
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18
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Njagi P, Arsenijevic J, Groot W. Decomposition of changes in socioeconomic inequalities in catastrophic health expenditure in Kenya. PLoS One 2020; 15:e0244428. [PMID: 33373401 PMCID: PMC7771691 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0244428] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/19/2019] [Accepted: 12/09/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) is frequently used as an indicator of financial protection. CHE exists when health expenditure exceeds a certain threshold of household consumption. Although CHE is reported to have declined in Kenya, it is still unacceptably high and disproportionately affects the poor. This study examines the socioeconomic factors that contribute to inequalities in CHE as well as the change in these inequalities over time in Kenya. METHODS We used data from the Kenya household health expenditure and utilisation (KHHEUS) surveys in 2007 and 2013. The concertation index was used to measure the socioeconomic inequalities in CHE. Using the Wagstaff (2003) approach, we decomposed the concentration index of CHE to assess the relative contribution of its determinants. We applied Oaxaca-type decomposition to assess the change in CHE inequalities over time and the factors that explain it. RESULTS The findings show that while there was a decline in the incidence of CHE, inequalities in CHE increased from -0.271 to -0.376 and was disproportionately concentrated amongst the less well-off. Higher wealth quintiles and employed household heads positively contributed to the inequalities in CHE, suggesting that they disadvantaged the poor. The rise in CHE inequalities overtime was explained mainly by the changes in the elasticities of the household wealth status. CONCLUSION Inequalities in CHE are persistent in Kenya and are largely driven by the socioeconomic status of the households. This implies that the existing financial risk protection mechanisms have not been sufficient in cushioning the most vulnerable from the financial burden of healthcare payments. Understanding the factors that sustain inequalities in CHE is, therefore, paramount in shaping pro-poor interventions that not only protect the poor from financial hardship but also reduce overall socioeconomic inequalities. This underscores the fundamental need for a multi-sectoral approach to broadly address existing socioeconomic inequalities.
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Affiliation(s)
- Purity Njagi
- United Nations University-MERIT, Maastricht Graduate School of Governance, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
| | - Jelena Arsenijevic
- Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance, School of Governance, Utrecht University, Utrecht, Netherlands
| | - Wim Groot
- United Nations University-MERIT, Maastricht Graduate School of Governance, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
- Faculty of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences, Department of Health Services Research, Maastricht University, Maastricht, Netherlands
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Chamie G, Hickey MD, Kwarisiima D, Ayieko J, Kamya MR, Havlir DV. Universal HIV Testing and Treatment (UTT) Integrated with Chronic Disease Screening and Treatment: the SEARCH study. Curr HIV/AIDS Rep 2020; 17:315-323. [PMID: 32507985 DOI: 10.1007/s11904-020-00500-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/16/2022]
Abstract
PURPOSE OF REVIEW The growing burden of untreated chronic disease among persons with HIV (PWH) threatens to reverse heath gains from ART expansion. Universal test and treat (UTT)'s population-based approach provides opportunity to jointly identify and treat HIV and other chronic diseases. This review's purpose is to describe SEARCH UTT study's integrated disease strategy and related approaches in Sub-Saharan Africa. RECENT FINDINGS In SEARCH, 97% of adults were HIV tested, 85% were screened for hypertension, and 79% for diabetes at health fairs after 2 years, for an additional $1.16/person. After 3 years, population-level hypertension control was 26% higher in intervention versus control communities. Other mobile/home-based multi-disease screening approaches have proven successful, but data on multi-disease care delivery are extremely limited and show little effect on clinical outcomes. Integration of chronic disease into HIV in the UTT era is feasible and can achieve population level effects; however, optimization and implementation remain a huge unmet need.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gabriel Chamie
- Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases & Global Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital / University of California, San Francisco, UCSF Box 0874, San Francisco, CA, 94143-0874, USA.
| | - Matthew D Hickey
- Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases & Global Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital / University of California, San Francisco, UCSF Box 0874, San Francisco, CA, 94143-0874, USA
| | | | | | - Moses R Kamya
- Infectious Diseases Research Collaboration, Kampala, Uganda.,Makerere University College of Health Sciences, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Diane V Havlir
- Division of HIV, Infectious Diseases & Global Medicine, San Francisco General Hospital / University of California, San Francisco, UCSF Box 0874, San Francisco, CA, 94143-0874, USA
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20
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Nakovics MI, Brenner S, Bongololo G, Chinkhumba J, Kalmus O, Leppert G, De Allegri M. Determinants of healthcare seeking and out-of-pocket expenditures in a "free" healthcare system: evidence from rural Malawi. HEALTH ECONOMICS REVIEW 2020; 10:14. [PMID: 32462272 PMCID: PMC7254643 DOI: 10.1186/s13561-020-00271-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 8] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Accepted: 04/08/2020] [Indexed: 06/01/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Monitoring financial protection is a key component in achieving Universal Health Coverage, even for health systems that grant their citizens access to care free-of-charge. Our study investigated out-of-pocket expenditure (OOPE) on curative healthcare services and their determinants in rural Malawi, a country that has consistently aimed at providing free healthcare services. METHODS Our study used data from two consecutive rounds of a household survey conducted in 2012 and 2013 among 1639 households in three districts in rural Malawi. Given our explicit focus on OOPE for curative healthcare services, we relied on a Heckman selection model to account for the fact that relevant OOPE could only be observed for those who had sought care in the first place. RESULTS Our sample included a total of 2740 illness episodes. Among the 1884 (68.75%) that had made use of curative healthcare services, 494 (26.22%) had incurred a positive healthcare expenditure, whose mean amounted to 678.45 MWK (equivalent to 2.72 USD). Our analysis revealed a significant positive association between the magnitude of OOPE and age 15-39 years (p = 0.022), household head (p = 0.037), suffering from a chronic illness (p = 0.019), illness duration (p = 0.014), hospitalization (p = 0.002), number of accompanying persons (p = 0.019), wealth quartiles (p2 = 0.018; p3 = 0.001; p4 = 0.002), and urban residency (p = 0.001). CONCLUSION Our findings indicate that a formal policy commitment to providing free healthcare services is not sufficient to guarantee widespread financial protection and that additional measures are needed to protect particularly vulnerable population groups.
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Affiliation(s)
- Meike Irene Nakovics
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Stephan Brenner
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Grace Bongololo
- Research for Equity and Community Health (REACH) Trust, Lilongwe, Malawi
| | - Jobiba Chinkhumba
- University of Malawi College of Medicine, Blantyre, Southern Region Malawi
| | - Olivier Kalmus
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
| | - Gerald Leppert
- German Institute for Development Evaluation (DEval), Bonn, Germany
| | - Manuela De Allegri
- Heidelberg Institute of Global Health, Faculty of Medicine and University Hospital, University of Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany
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21
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Injuries and their related household costs in a tertiary hospital in Ghana. Afr J Emerg Med 2020; 10:S44-S49. [PMID: 33318901 PMCID: PMC7723915 DOI: 10.1016/j.afjem.2020.04.004] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/07/2019] [Revised: 04/02/2020] [Accepted: 04/12/2020] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction Injuries remain a leading cause of death in many developing countries, accounting for more deaths than HIV, tuberculosis, and malaria combined. This study set out to determine the associated patient costs of reported injury cases at the Accident and Emergency Department of the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital (KBTH) in Accra, Ghana. Method A cross-sectional retrospective Cost-of-Illness study of 301 sampled patients was undertaken, following a review of injured patients' records from January–December 2016. Direct cost, (consisting of consultation, surgery, medicines, transportation, property damage, food and consumables) was estimated. Indirect cost was calculated using the Human capital approach. Intangible cost was assessed using Likert scale analysis. The overall household cost, average cost of various injuries and intangible costs were determined. Results The total annual household cost of injuries to patients who attended KBTH was US$11,327,461.96, of which 82% was the direct cost. The average household cost of injuries was US$ 1276.15. All injuries recorded some level of high intangible cost but was exceptional for burns. Conclusion Injured patients incur high direct treatment cost in all aetiology, with generally high intangible cost as well. It is therefore imperative that injury prevention strategies be prioritized in national health policies, while broader discussions continue on sustainable health financing of injury management.
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Bunn C, Mtema O, Songo J, Udedi M. The growth of sports betting in Malawi: corporate strategies, public space and public health. Public Health 2020; 184:95-101. [PMID: 32466981 DOI: 10.1016/j.puhe.2020.03.022] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/23/2019] [Revised: 03/09/2020] [Accepted: 03/27/2020] [Indexed: 10/24/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Gambling is increasingly positioned as a public health issue, with links to a wide range of harms for individuals, communities and societies. Malawi has experienced a rapid rise in the availability of high street and online sports betting services, situated in a context of extreme inequality and poverty. We aim to document the strategies through which a leading sports betting firm have established a market worth MK2.1bn, to inform future initiatives to mitigate gambling-related harm. STUDY DESIGN A case study of strategies deployed by a leading firm to grow a sports betting market in Malawi. METHODS We undertook a qualitative media analysis of articles from six major Malawian news outlets and combined this with photographic evidence relating to company advertising and presence in Malawian public space. Data were analysed thematically and triangulated to generate a typology of corporate strategies. RESULTS We collected 39 articles and 15 photographs. After we screened the articles, we analysed 27 and identified seven corporate strategies: adopt a mobile network franchise model; use media coverage; purchase high-visibility advertising; sponsor locally; build association with (European) football; appeal to aspects of hegemonic masculinity; construct narratives of individual and collective benefit. CONCLUSION Malawi has been exposed to a sophisticated set of corporate strategies aimed at growing a sports betting market. These strategies have been successful, and it is likely that a range of foreseeable gambling-related harms are affecting Malawi. We offer suggestions for how policy-makers and public health professionals might respond.
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Affiliation(s)
- C Bunn
- College of Social Sciences, University of Glasgow, United Kingdom; Malawi Epidemiology and Intervention Research Unit, Malawi.
| | | | - J Songo
- Malawi Epidemiology and Intervention Research Unit, Malawi
| | - M Udedi
- Non-Communicable Diseases Unit, Ministry of Health, Malawi
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Zawudie AB, Lemma TD, Daka DW. Cost of Hypertension Illness and Associated Factors Among Patients Attending Hospitals in Southwest Shewa Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. CLINICOECONOMICS AND OUTCOMES RESEARCH 2020; 12:201-211. [PMID: 32308448 PMCID: PMC7154006 DOI: 10.2147/ceor.s241591] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/12/2019] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hypertension is a common vascular disease and the main risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. Since the incidence of hypertension is rising in Ethiopia, one may expect that the household’s cost of healthcare services related to the disease will increase in the near future. Yet the cost associated with the disease is not known. We aimed to estimate the total cost of hypertension illness and identify associated factors among patients attending hospitals in Southwest Shewa zone, Oromia regional state, Ethiopia. Patients and Methods An institution-based cross-sectional study design was employed to conduct the study from 13 August to 2 September 2018. All hypertensive patients aged 18 years and older who were on follow-up were eligible for this study. The total cost of hypertension illness was estimated by summing the direct and indirect costs. Bivariate and multivariate linear regression analyses were performed to identify factors associated with hypertension costs of illnesses. Results A total of 349 patients participated in the study. The mean monthly total cost of hypertension illness was US$ 22.3 (95% CI, 21.3–23.3). Direct and indirect costs constitute 51% and 49% of the total cost, respectively. The mean direct cost of hypertension illness per patient per month was US$ 11.39 (95% CI, 10.6–12.1). Out of these, drugs comprised higher cost (31%), followed by food (25%). The mean indirect cost per patient per month was US$ 10.89 (95% CI, 10.4–11.4). In this study, the primary educational status, family size (4–6 and >6), distance from hospital (≥10 km), the presence of a companion and stage of hypertension (stage two) of patients were identified as the predictors of the cost of hypertension illnesses. Conclusion The cost of hypertension illness was very high when compared to the monthly income of households, exposing patients to catastrophic costs. Hence, the government should give due attention to protect patients from catastrophic health expenditures.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Teferi Daba Lemma
- Faculty of Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Management, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
| | - Dawit Wolde Daka
- Faculty of Public Health, Department of Health Policy and Management, Jimma University, Jimma, Ethiopia
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How Does Health Status Affect Marginal Utility of Consumption? Evidence from China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17072234. [PMID: 32225010 PMCID: PMC7177955 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17072234] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/07/2020] [Revised: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/25/2020] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
This paper investigates how the deteriorating health status of an individual affects the marginal utility of non-medical consumption in China. By using 2011, 2013 and 2015 China Health and Retirement Longitudinal Study (CHARLS) data, we find that when the number of chronic diseases increases one standard deviation, the marginal utility of consumption will increase by 16.0% and 20.0% for samples of the middle-aged and elderly individuals over 50 and 65 years of age, respectively. This result is to some extent contrary to the findings from the US. Different economic development stages, intergenerational norms and bequest motives may be reasons for these contrasting patterns between China and the US.
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Murphy A, Palafox B, Walli-Attaei M, Powell-Jackson T, Rangarajan S, Alhabib KF, Avezum AJ, Calik KBT, Chifamba J, Choudhury T, Dagenais G, Dans AL, Gupta R, Iqbal R, Kaur M, Kelishadi R, Khatib R, Kruger IM, Kutty VR, Lear SA, Li W, Lopez-Jaramillo P, Mohan V, Mony PK, Orlandini A, Rosengren A, Rosnah I, Seron P, Teo K, Tse LA, Tsolekile L, Wang Y, Wielgosz A, Yan R, Yeates KE, Yusoff K, Zatonska K, Hanson K, Yusuf S, McKee M. The household economic burden of non-communicable diseases in 18 countries. BMJ Glob Health 2020; 5:e002040. [PMID: 32133191 PMCID: PMC7042605 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2019-002040] [Citation(s) in RCA: 73] [Impact Index Per Article: 18.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/01/2019] [Revised: 01/07/2020] [Accepted: 01/09/2020] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) are the leading cause of death globally. In 2014, the United Nations committed to reducing premature mortality from NCDs, including by reducing the burden of healthcare costs. Since 2014, the Prospective Urban and Rural Epidemiology (PURE) Study has been collecting health expenditure data from households with NCDs in 18 countries. Methods Using data from the PURE Study, we estimated risk of catastrophic health spending and impoverishment among households with at least one person with NCDs (cardiovascular disease, diabetes, kidney disease, cancer and respiratory diseases; n=17 435), with hypertension only (a leading risk factor for NCDs; n=11 831) or with neither (n=22 654) by country income group: high-income countries (Canada and Sweden), upper middle income countries (UMICs: Brazil, Chile, Malaysia, Poland, South Africa and Turkey), lower middle income countries (LMICs: the Philippines, Colombia, India, Iran and the Occupied Palestinian Territory) and low-income countries (LICs: Bangladesh, Pakistan, Zimbabwe and Tanzania) and China. Results The prevalence of catastrophic spending and impoverishment is highest among households with NCDs in LMICs and China. After adjusting for covariates that might drive health expenditure, the absolute risk of catastrophic spending is higher in households with NCDs compared with no NCDs in LMICs (risk difference=1.71%; 95% CI 0.75 to 2.67), UMICs (0.82%; 95% CI 0.37 to 1.27) and China (7.52%; 95% CI 5.88 to 9.16). A similar pattern is observed in UMICs and China for impoverishment. A high proportion of those with NCDs in LICs, especially women (38.7% compared with 12.6% in men), reported not taking medication due to costs. Conclusions Our findings show that financial protection from healthcare costs for people with NCDs is inadequate, particularly in LMICs and China. While the burden of NCD care may appear greatest in LMICs and China, the burden in LICs may be masked by care foregone due to costs. The high proportion of women reporting foregone care due to cost may in part explain gender inequality in treatment of NCDs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adrianna Murphy
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London, UK
| | - Benjamin Palafox
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London, UK
| | - Marjan Walli-Attaei
- Population Health Research Institute, Hamilton Health Sciences and McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Timothy Powell-Jackson
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London, UK
| | - Sumathy Rangarajan
- Population Health Research Institute, Hamilton Health Sciences and McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Khalid F Alhabib
- Department of Cardiac Sciences, King Fahad Cardiac Center, College of Medicine, King Saud University, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia
| | | | | | - Jephat Chifamba
- Department of Physiology, University of Zimbabwe, Harare, Zimbabwe
| | | | - Gilles Dagenais
- Institut universitaire de cardiologie et de pneumologie de Québec, Quebec City, Ontario, Canada
| | - Antonio L Dans
- Department of Medicine, University of the Philippines Manila, Manila, Philippines
| | - Rajeev Gupta
- Eternal Heart Care Centre and Research Institute, Jaipur, India
| | - Romaina Iqbal
- Department of Community Health Sciences, Aga Khan University, Karachi, Pakistan
| | - Manmeet Kaur
- School of Public Health, Post Graduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India
| | - Roya Kelishadi
- Isfahan Cardiovascular Research Center, Cardiovascular Research Institute, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, the Islamic Republic of Iran
| | - Rasha Khatib
- Department of Neurology, Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine, Chicago, Illinois, USA
| | - Iolanthe Marike Kruger
- Africa Unit for Transdisciplinary Health Research, North-West University, Potchefstroom, South Africa
| | | | - Scott A Lear
- Faculty of Health Sciences, Simon Fraser University, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Wei Li
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, University Teknologi MARA, Beijing, China
| | | | - Viswanathan Mohan
- Dr. Mohan's Diabetes Specialities Centre & Madras Diabetes Research Foundation, Chennai, India
| | - Prem K Mony
- St John's Medical College and Research Institute, Bangalore, India
| | | | - Annika Rosengren
- Department of Molecular and Clinical Medicine, Sahlgrenska Academy, University of Gothenburg and Sahlgrenska University, Gothenburg, Sweden
| | - Ismail Rosnah
- Community Health Department, Faculty of Medicine, UKM Medical Centre, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Pamela Seron
- Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de La Frontera, Temucu, Chile
| | - Koon Teo
- Population Health Research Institute, Hamilton Health Sciences and McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Lap Ah Tse
- JC School of Public Health and Primary Care, Faculty of Medicine, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong
| | - Lungiswa Tsolekile
- School of Public Health, University of the Western Cape, Bellville, Western Cape, South Africa
| | - Yang Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Andreas Wielgosz
- Department of Medicine, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
| | - Ruohua Yan
- State Key Laboratory of Cardiovascular Disease, Fuwai Hospital, National Center for Cardiovascular Diseases, Chinese Academy of Medical Sciences and Peking Union Medical College, Beijing, China
| | - Karen E Yeates
- Department of Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, New Hampshire, Canada
| | - Khalid Yusoff
- UiTM, Selayang, Selangor and UCSI University, Cheras, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
| | - Katarzyna Zatonska
- Department of Social Medicine, Wroclaw Medical University, Wroclaw, Poland
| | - Kara Hanson
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London, UK
| | - Salim Yusuf
- Population Health Research Institute, Hamilton Health Sciences and McMaster University, Hamilton, Ontario, Canada
| | - Martin McKee
- London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London, UK
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Updated assessment of risks and benefits of dolutegravir versus efavirenz in new antiretroviral treatment initiators in sub-Saharan Africa: modelling to inform treatment guidelines. Lancet HIV 2020; 7:e193-e200. [PMID: 32035041 PMCID: PMC7167509 DOI: 10.1016/s2352-3018(19)30400-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/17/2019] [Revised: 11/08/2019] [Accepted: 11/25/2019] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
Abstract
Background The integrase inhibitor dolutegravir is being considered in several countries in sub-Saharan Africa instead of efavirenz for people initiating antiretroviral therapy (ART) because of superior tolerability and a lower risk of resistance emergence. WHO requested updated modelling results for its 2019 Antiretroviral Guidelines update, which was restricted to the choice of dolutegravir or efavirenz in new ART initiators. In response to this request, we modelled the risks and benefits of alternative policies for initial first-line ART regimens. Methods We updated an existing individual-based model of HIV transmission and progression in adults to consider information on the risk of neural tube defects in women taking dolutegravir at time of conception, as well as the effects of dolutegravir on weight gain. The model accounted for drug resistance in determining viral suppression, with consequences for clinical outcomes and mother-to-child transmission. We sampled distributions of parameters to create various epidemic setting scenarios, which reflected the diversity of epidemic and programmatic situations in sub-Saharan Africa. For each setting scenario, we considered the situation in 2018 and compared ART initiation policies of an efavirenz-based regimen in women intending pregnancy, and a dolutegravir-based regimen in others, and a dolutegravir-based regimen, including in women intending pregnancy. We considered predicted outcomes over a 20-year period from 2019 to 2039, used a 3% discount rate, and a cost-effectiveness threshold of US$500 per disability-adjusted life-year (DALY) averted. Findings Considering updated information on risks and benefits, a policy of ART initiation with a dolutegravir-based regimen rather than an efavirenz-based regimen, including in women intending pregnancy, is predicted to bring population health benefits (10 990 DALYs averted per year) and to be cost-saving (by $2·9 million per year), leading to a reduction in the overall population burden of disease of 16 735 net DALYs per year for a country with an adult population size of 10 million. The policy involving ART initiation with a dolutegravir-based regimen in women intending pregnancy was cost-effective in 87% of our setting scenarios and this finding was robust in various sensitivity analyses, including around the potential negative effects of weight gain. Interpretation In the context of a range of modelled setting scenarios in sub-Saharan Africa, we found that a policy of ART initiation with a dolutegravir-based regimen, including in women intending pregnancy, was predicted to bring population health benefits and be cost-effective, supporting WHO's strong recommendation for dolutegravir as a preferred drug for ART initiators. Funding Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation.
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Datta BK, Husain MJ, Fatehin S, Kostova D. Consumption displacement in households with noncommunicable diseases in Bangladesh. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0208504. [PMID: 30543648 PMCID: PMC6292644 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0208504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2018] [Accepted: 11/07/2018] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
The economic burden of noncommunicable diseases (NCDs), including treatment costs and income and productivity losses, is a growing concern in developing countries, where NCD medical expenditure may offset consumption of other essential commodities. This study examines the role of NCDs in household resource allocation in Bangladesh. We use the Bangladesh Household Income and Expenditure Survey (HIES) 2010 to obtain expenditure data on 11 household expenditure categories and 12 food expenditure sub-categories for 12,240 households. Household NCD status was determined through self-report of at least one of the six major NCDs within the household-heart disease, hypertension, diabetes, kidney diseases, asthma, and cancer. We estimated unadjusted and regression-adjusted differences in household expenditure shares between NCD and non-NCD households. We further investigated how consumption of different food sub-categories is related to NCD status, distinguishing between household economic levels. The medical expenditure share was estimated to be 59% higher for NCD households than non-NCD households, and NCD households had lower expenditure shares on food, clothing, hygiene, and energy. Regression results indicated that presence of NCDs was associated with lower relative expenditure on clothing and housing in all economic subgroups, and with lower expenditure on food among marginally poor households. Having an NCD was significantly associated with higher household spending on tobacco and higher-calorie foods such as sugar, beverages, meat, dairy, and fruit, and with lower spending on fish, vegetables, and legumes. The findings indicate a link between NCDs and the possibility of adverse economic effects on the household by highlighting the potential displacement effect on household consumption that might occur through higher medical expenditure and lower spending on essentials. The findings might also point to a need for raising awareness about the link between NCDs and diet in Bangladesh.
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Affiliation(s)
- Biplab Kumar Datta
- Global Noncommunicable Diseases Branch, Division of Global Health Protection, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Muhammad Jami Husain
- Global Noncommunicable Diseases Branch, Division of Global Health Protection, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
| | - Sohani Fatehin
- Department of Economics, Dickinson College, Carlisle, PA, United States of America
| | - Deliana Kostova
- Global Noncommunicable Diseases Branch, Division of Global Health Protection, Center for Global Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA, United States of America
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Koritala BSC, Çakmaklı S. The human circadian clock from health to economics. Psych J 2018; 7:176-196. [DOI: 10.1002/pchj.252] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2018] [Revised: 09/13/2018] [Accepted: 09/19/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Bala S. C. Koritala
- Department of Biology; Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; Camden New Jersey USA
- Center for Computational and Integrative Biology; Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; Camden New Jersey USA
| | - Selim Çakmaklı
- Department of Economics; Rutgers, The State University of New Jersey; Camden New Jersey USA
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He J, Yin Z, Duan W, Wang Y, Wang X. Factors of hospitalization expenditure of the genitourinary system diseases in the aged based on "System of Health Account 2011" and neural network model. J Glob Health 2018; 8:020504. [PMID: 30356462 PMCID: PMC6184416 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.08.020504] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hospitalization expenditure of genitourinary system diseases among the aged is often overlooked. The aim of our research is to analyze the basic situation and influencing factors of hospitalization expenditure of the genitourinary system diseases and provide better data for the health system. Methods A total of 1 377 681 patients aged 65 years and over were collected with multistage stratified cluster random sampling in 252 medical institutions in Liaoning China, and “System of Health Account 2011” (SHA2011) was conducted to analyze the expenditure of the diseases. The corresponding samples were extracted, the neural network model was utilized to fit the regression model of the diseases among the aged, and sensitivity analysis was used to rank the influencing factors. Results Total hospitalization expenditure in Liaoning was 51.286 billion yuan, and curative care expenditure of diseases of the genitourinary system was 3.350 billion yuan, accounting for 6.53%. In the neural network model, the training set of R2 was 0.71. The test set of R2 was 0.74. In the sensitivity analysis, top-three influencing factors were the length of stay, type of institutions and type of insurances; the weight was 0.28, 0.19 and 0.14, respectively. Conclusions This research used SHA2011 to grab a large amount of data and analyzed them depending upon the corresponding dimensions. The neural network can analyze the influencing factors of hospitalization expenditure of genitourinary diseases in elderly patients accurately and directly, and can clearly describe the extent of its impact by combining sensitivity analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Junlin He
- School of Public Health, China Medical University, Wuxi No. 2 People's Hospital Affiliated to Nanjing Medical University, Wuxi, China
| | - Zhuo Yin
- College of Metropolitan Transportation, Beijing University of Technology, Beijing, China
| | - Wenjuan Duan
- College of the Humanities and Social Sciences, China Medical University, Shenyang, China
| | | | - Xin Wang
- College of the Humanities and Social Sciences, China Medical University, School of Public Health, Xinjiang Medical University, Urumqi, China
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Yaya S, Bishwajit G. Fruit and vegetable consumption among adults in Namibia: analysis of a nationally representative population. Health Promot Perspect 2018; 8:283-289. [PMID: 30479982 PMCID: PMC6249495 DOI: 10.15171/hpp.2018.40] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/17/2018] [Accepted: 08/25/2018] [Indexed: 02/06/2023] Open
Abstract
Background: Prevalence of F&V consumption in Namibia is not known. In this study we aimed to address this gap by using nationally representative data with the objectives of measuring the prevalence of adequate F&V consumption among adult men and women and their socio demographic determinants. Methods: This study is based on data from Namibia Demographic and Health Survey (NDHS2013). Sample population were 14 185 men and women aged between 15 and 49 years.Amount of fruit and vegetable consumption was measured by self-reported frequencies and was defined as adequate (at least 5 servings/day) according to World Health Organization (WHO)guidelines. Results: Overall, only 4.3% (3.8-4.9%) of the men and women reported consuming at least 5 servings of F&V a day, with the percentage being slightly higher among women (4.8%,95% CI=3.7-6.2) compared with men (4.2%, 95% CI=3.6-4.8). In the multivariable analysis,education level and household wealth status appeared to be the only factors associated with adequate F&V intake. Men and women who had primary level education had higher odds of eating at least 5 servings of F&V a day compared with those who had no education. Regarding wealth status, men and women from non-poor households had respectively 2.13 times(OR=2.13, 95% CI=1.01-4.48) and 2.2 times (OR=2.19, 95% CI=1.56-3.38) higher odds of eating at least 5 servings of F&V a day. Conclusion: Only a small proportion of the men and women consumed adequate amount of F&V on daily basis. Having primary level education and non-poor household wealth status were positively associated with adequate amount of F&V intake.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sanni Yaya
- Faculty of Social Sciences, School of International Development and Global Studies, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada
| | - Ghose Bishwajit
- Faculty of Social Sciences, School of International Development and Global Studies, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, Canada.,Institute of Nutrition and Food Science, University of Dhaka, Dhaka, Bangladesh
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Njagi P, Arsenijevic J, Groot W. Understanding variations in catastrophic health expenditure, its underlying determinants and impoverishment in Sub-Saharan African countries: a scoping review. Syst Rev 2018; 7:136. [PMID: 30205846 PMCID: PMC6134791 DOI: 10.1186/s13643-018-0799-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 49] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/08/2018] [Accepted: 08/20/2018] [Indexed: 11/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To assess the financial burden due to out of pocket (OOP) payments, two mutually exclusive approaches have been used: catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) and impoverishment. Sub-Saharan African (SSA) countries primarily rely on OOP and are thus challenged with providing financial protection to the populations. To understand the variations in CHE and impoverishment in SSA, and the underlying determinants of CHE, a scoping review of the existing evidence was conducted. METHODS This review is guided by Arksey and O'Malley scoping review framework. A search was conducted in several databases including PubMed, EBSCO (EconLit, PsychoInfo, CINAHL), Web of Science, Jstor and virtual libraries of the World Health Organizations (WHO) and the World Bank. The primary outcome of interest was catastrophic health expenditure/impoverishment, while the secondary outcome was the associated risk factors. RESULTS Thirty-four (34) studies that met the inclusion criteria were fully assessed. CHE was higher amongst West African countries and amongst patients receiving treatment for HIV/ART, TB, malaria and chronic illnesses. Risk factors associated with CHE included household economic status, type of health provider, socio-demographic characteristics of household members, type of illness, social insurance schemes, geographical location and household size/composition. The proportion of households that are impoverished has increased over time across countries and also within the countries. CONCLUSION This review demonstrated that CHE/impoverishment is pervasive in SSA, and the magnitude varies across and within countries and over time. Socio-economic factors are seen to drive CHE with the poor being the most affected, and they vary across countries. This calls for intensifying health policies and financing structures in SSA, to provide equitable access to all populations especially the most poor and vulnerable. There is a need to innovate and draw lessons from the 'informal' social networks/schemes as they are reported to be more effective in cushioning the financial burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Purity Njagi
- United Nations University - Maastricht Economic and social Research institute on Innovation and Technology(UNU-MERIT), Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
| | - Jelena Arsenijevic
- Department of Health Services Research, Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
- Faculty of Law, Economics and Governance, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
| | - Wim Groot
- Department of Health Services Research, Faculty of Health Medicine and Life Sciences, Maastricht University, Maastricht, The Netherlands
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Yap A, Cheung M, Kakembo N, Kisa P, Muzira A, Sekabira J, Ozgediz D. From Procedure to Poverty: Out-of-Pocket and Catastrophic Expenditure for Pediatric Surgery in Uganda. J Surg Res 2018; 232:484-491. [PMID: 30463761 DOI: 10.1016/j.jss.2018.05.077] [Citation(s) in RCA: 25] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2018] [Revised: 05/02/2018] [Accepted: 05/31/2018] [Indexed: 11/27/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Financial protection from catastrophic health care expenditure (CHE) and patient out-of-pocket (OOP) spending are key indicators for sustainable surgical delivery. We aimed to calculate these metrics for a hospital stay requiring surgery in Uganda's pediatric population. METHODS A survey was administered to family members of postoperative patients in the pediatric surgical ward at Mulago Hospital. Cost categories included direct medical costs, direct nonmedical costs, indirect costs, plus money borrowed and items sold to pay for the hospital stay. CHE was defined as spending greater than 10% of annual household expenditure. Costs were reported in Ugandan shillings and US dollars. RESULTS One hundred and thirty-two patient families were surveyed between November 2016 and April 2017. Median direct costs were $27.55 (IQR 18.73-183.69) for diagnostics, $18.36 (IQR 9.52-41.33) for medications, $26.63 (IQR 9.19-45.92) for transportation, and $32.60 (IQR 12.85-64.29) for food and lodging. Forty-four percent of respondents were employed, and median indirect cost from productivity loss was $95.52 (IQR 55.10-243.38). Eighteen percent (16/87) borrowed money, and 9% (8/87) sold possessions to pay for the hospital stay. Total median OOP cost for patient families per hospital stay was $150.62 (IQR 65.21-339.82). Sixteen percent (21/132) of families incurred CHE from direct costs, and the proportion rose to 27% (32/132) when indirect cost was included. CONCLUSIONS Although pediatric surgical services in Uganda are formally provided for free by the public sector, families accrue substantial OOP expenditure and almost a third of households incur CHE for a pediatric surgical procedure. This study suggests that broader financial protection must be established to meet Sustainable Development Goal targets.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ava Yap
- Department of Surgery, University of California San Francisco, San Francisco, California.
| | - Maija Cheung
- Department of Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
| | - Nasser Kakembo
- Department of Surgery, Makerere University, Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Phyllis Kisa
- Department of Surgery, Makerere University, Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Arlene Muzira
- Department of Surgery, Makerere University, Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda
| | - John Sekabira
- Department of Surgery, Makerere University, Mulago Hospital, Kampala, Uganda
| | - Doruk Ozgediz
- Department of Surgery, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut
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Catastrophic health expenditure in households with chronic disease patients: A pre-post comparison of the New Health Care Reform in Shaanxi Province, China. PLoS One 2018; 13:e0194539. [PMID: 29547654 PMCID: PMC5856426 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0194539] [Citation(s) in RCA: 23] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/25/2017] [Accepted: 03/05/2018] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Introduction In 2009, China officially launched the New Health Care Reform (NHCR). One important purpose of the reform was to reduce financial burden of health care through health insurance expansion and health care provider regulations. This study aimed to provide evidence on the effect of the NHCR reform on catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) by comparing the occurrence and inequality of CHE among households with chronic diseases patients before and after the reform. Methods This study used the subset of data from the 2008 and 2013 National Health Services Survey conducted in Shaanxi Province. Our sample included households with chronic diseases patients and excluded observations with key variables missing. The final sample size was 1942 households in 2008 and 7704 households in 2013. We defined CHE occurrence following the definition of the World Health Organization (WHO). The income-related inequality in CHE was measured by the concentration index. A multi-level logistic regression model was used in the study to explore the influence of the NHCR on CHE occurrence, controlling for important covariates. Results From 2008 to 2013, the occurrence rate of CHE in rural areas declined from 29.15% to 23.62%. However, the CHE rate in urban areas increased from 19.18% to 24.95%. The interaction term between year and rural/urban location was statistically significant, confirming that the influence of the NHCR on the CHE occurrence rates were heterogeneous between rural and urban areas. As for the CHE inequality, the concentration index in rural areas decreased from -0.4572 to -0.5499 with a p-value less than 0.05. This implied that the CHE occurrence inequality was increased after the implementation of the NHCR. Conclusion Our study suggested that the implementation of the NHCR might not have been effective in reducing the CHE occurrence for households with chronic disease patients. Although the occurrence of CHE of rural households had decreased, the occurrence of CHE in urban areas was higher than before. In addition, the income inequality of CHE occurrence was greater in 2013 compared to that in 2008 in rural areas. Although the reform resulted in higher insurance coverage and higher government expenditure in health care, the financial burden of health care on households did not necessarily improve. Further efforts on developing the current health insurance system and optimizing the hierarchical health care system are required to improve the protection against CHE.
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Duan W, Zheng A, Mu X, Li M, Liu C, Huang W, Wang X. How great is the medical burden of disease on the aged? Research based on "System of Health Account 2011". Health Qual Life Outcomes 2017; 15:134. [PMID: 28673360 PMCID: PMC5496388 DOI: 10.1186/s12955-017-0709-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2017] [Accepted: 06/26/2017] [Indexed: 01/28/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The aging of population and the burden of disease among the aged have become one of the hot topics in the international health, and also brought tremendous pressure in the development of health service. METHODS A total of 1,377,681 patients aged 65 years and over were collected with multistage stratified cluster random sampling in 252 medical institutions in Liaoning China, and "System of Health Account 2011" was conducted to analyze the expenditure of disease for the elderly. Influencing factors were performed using multiple stepwise regression analysis. RESULTS The curative care expenditure for the aged was 233.18 billion RMB. Most of the expenditure for the old people was in hospital. Moreover, by the disease, the highest expenditure was incurred by non-communicable diseases. The financing scheme of the aged was concentrated on social health insurance and family health expenditure. Hospitalization expenditure was significantly associated with length of stay, operation, etc. CONCLUSIONS This study intends to capture large data from various medical institutions with a new accounting system. The finding illustrates that the burden of old people is still heavy.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wenjuan Duan
- College of the Humanities and Social Sciences, China Medical University, No.77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning Province 110122 People’s Republic of China
| | - Ang Zheng
- Department of Breast Surgery, the First Affiliated Hospital of China Medical University, No.155 Nanjing Road, Heping Area, Shenyang, Liaoning Province 110001 People’s Republic of China
| | - Xin Mu
- The Hospital of Stomatology, China Medical University, No.117 North of Nanjing Road, Heping Area, Shenyang, Liaoning Province 110122 People’s Republic of China
| | - Mingyang Li
- China Medical University, No.77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning Province 110122 People’s Republic of China
| | - Chunli Liu
- Library of China Medical University, No.77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning Province 110122 People’s Republic of China
| | - Wenzhong Huang
- College of Public Health, China Medical University, No.77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning Province 110122 People’s Republic of China
| | - Xin Wang
- College of the Humanities and Social Sciences, China Medical University, No.77 Puhe Road, Shenyang North New Area, Shenyang, Liaoning Province 110122 People’s Republic of China
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