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Oyando R, Were V, Willis R, Koros H, Kamano JH, Naanyu V, Etyang A, Mugo R, Murphy A, Nolte E, Perel P, Barasa E. Examining the responsiveness of the National Health Insurance Fund to people living with hypertension and diabetes in Kenya: a qualitative study. BMJ Open 2023; 13:e069330. [PMID: 37407061 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2022-069330] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/07/2023] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVES To assess the responsiveness of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) Supa Cover benefit package to the needs of individuals with diabetes and hypertension in Kenya. DESIGN, SETTING AND PARTICIPANTS We carried out a qualitative study and collected data using key informant interviews (n=39) and focus group discussions (n=4) in two purposively selected counties in Western Kenya. Study participants were drawn from NHIF officials, county government officials, health facility managers, healthcare workers and individuals with hypertension and diabetes who were enrolled in NHIF. We analysed data using a thematic approach. RESULTS Study participants reported that the NHIF Supa Cover benefit package expanded access to services for people living with hypertension and diabetes. However, the NHIF members and healthcare workers had inadequate awareness of the NHIF service entitlements. The NHIF benefit package inadequately covered the range of services needed by people living with hypertension and diabetes and the benefits package did not prioritise preventive and promotive services. Sometimes patients were discriminated against by healthcare providers who preferred cash-paying patients, and some NHIF-empanelled health facilities had inadequate structural inputs essential for quality of care. Study participants felt that the NHIF premium for the general scheme was unaffordable, and NHIF members faced additional out-of-pocket costs because of additional payments for services not available or covered. CONCLUSION Whereas NHIF has reduced financial barriers for hypertension and diabetes patients, to enhance its responsiveness to patient needs, NHIF should implement mechanisms to increase benefit package awareness among members and providers. In addition, preventive and promotive services should be included in NHIF's benefits package and mechanisms to monitor and hold contracted providers accountable should be strengthened.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robinson Oyando
- Health Economics Research Unit (HERU), KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Vincent Were
- Health Economics Research Unit (HERU), KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Ruth Willis
- Department of Health Service Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London, UK
| | - Hillary Koros
- Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare, Eldoret, Kenya
| | - Jemima H Kamano
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya
| | - Violet Naanyu
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya
- School of Arts and Social Sciences, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya
| | - Anthony Etyang
- Department of Epidemiology and Demography, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Richard Mugo
- Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare, Eldoret, Kenya
| | - Adrianna Murphy
- Department of Health Service Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London, UK
| | - Ellen Nolte
- Department of Health Service Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine Faculty of Public Health and Policy, London, UK
| | - Pablo Perel
- Department of Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Edwine Barasa
- Health Economics Research Unit (HERU), KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
- Center for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, University of Oxford, Oxford, 01540, UK
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Oyando R, Were V, Koros H, Mugo R, Kamano J, Etyang A, Murphy A, Hanson K, Perel P, Barasa E. Evaluating the effectiveness of the National Health Insurance Fund in providing financial protection to households with hypertension and diabetes patients in Kenya. Int J Equity Health 2023; 22:107. [PMID: 37264458 PMCID: PMC10234077 DOI: 10.1186/s12939-023-01923-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/28/2023] [Accepted: 05/22/2023] [Indexed: 06/03/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) can impose a substantial financial burden to households in the absence of an effective financial risk protection mechanism. The national health insurance fund (NHIF) has included NCD services in its national scheme. We evaluated the effectiveness of NHIF in providing financial risk protection to households with persons living with hypertension and/or diabetes in Kenya. METHODS We carried out a prospective cohort study, following 888 households with at least one individual living with hypertension and/or diabetes for 12 months. The exposure arm comprised households that are enrolled in the NHIF national scheme, while the control arm comprised households that were not enrolled in the NHIF. Study participants were drawn from two counties in Kenya. We used the incidence of catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) as the outcome of interest. We used coarsened exact matching and a conditional logistic regression model to analyse the odds of CHE among households enrolled in the NHIF compared with unenrolled households. Socioeconomic inequality in CHE was examined using concentration curves and indices. RESULTS We found strong evidence that NHIF-enrolled households spent a lower share (12.4%) of their household budget on healthcare compared with unenrolled households (23.2%) (p = 0.004). While households that were enrolled in NHIF were less likely to incur CHE, we did not find strong evidence that they are better protected from CHE compared with households without NHIF (OR = 0.67; p = 0.47). The concentration index (CI) for CHE showed a pro-poor distribution (CI: -0.190, p < 0.001). Almost half (46.9%) of households reported active NHIF enrolment at baseline but this reduced to 10.9% after one year, indicating an NHIF attrition rate of 76.7%. The depth of NHIF cover (i.e., the share of out-of-pocket healthcare costs paid by NHIF) among households with active NHIF was 29.6%. CONCLUSION We did not find strong evidence that the NHIF national scheme is effective in providing financial risk protection to households with individuals living with hypertension and/diabetes in Kenya. This could partly be explained by the low depth of cover of the NHIF national scheme, and the high attrition rate. To enhance NHIF effectiveness, there is a need to revise the NHIF benefit package to include essential hypertension and/diabetes services, review existing provider payment mechanisms to explicitly reimburse these services, and extend the existing insurance subsidy programme to include individuals in the informal labour market.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robinson Oyando
- Health Economics Research Unit, KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme, P.O.BOX 43640-00100, Nairobi, Kenya.
| | - Vincent Were
- Health Economics Research Unit, KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme, P.O.BOX 43640-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Hillary Koros
- Health Economics Research Unit, KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme, P.O.BOX 43640-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Jemima Kamano
- Department of Medicine, School of Medicine, College of Health Sciences, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya
| | - Anthony Etyang
- Department of Epidemiology and Demography, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Program, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Adrianna Murphy
- Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Kara Hanson
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Pablo Perel
- Department of Non-Communicable Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Edwine Barasa
- Health Economics Research Unit, KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme, P.O.BOX 43640-00100, Nairobi, Kenya
- Center for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Oxford University, Oxford, 01540, UK
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Nolte E, Kamano JH, Naanyu V, Etyang A, Gasparrini A, Hanson K, Koros H, Mugo R, Murphy A, Oyando R, Pliakas T, Were V, Willis R, Barasa E, Perel P. Scaling up the primary health integrated care project for chronic conditions in Kenya: study protocol for an implementation research project. BMJ Open 2022; 12:e056261. [PMID: 35296482 PMCID: PMC8928278 DOI: 10.1136/bmjopen-2021-056261] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/05/2023] Open
Abstract
INTRODUCTION Amid the rising number of people with non-communicable diseases (NCDs), Kenya has invested in strengthening primary care and in efforts to expand existing service delivery platforms to integrate NCD care. One such approach is the AMPATH (Academic Model Providing Access to Healthcare) model in western Kenya, which provides the platform for the Primary Health Integrated Care Project for Chronic Conditions (PIC4C), launched in 2018 to further strengthen primary care services for the prevention and control of hypertension, diabetes, breast and cervical cancer. This study seeks to understand how well PIC4C delivers on its intended aims and to inform and support scale up of the PIC4C model for integrated care for people with NCDs in Kenya. METHODS AND ANALYSIS The study is guided by a conceptual framework on implementing, sustaining and spreading innovation in health service delivery. We use a multimethod design combining qualitative and quantitative approaches, involving: (1) in-depth interviews with health workers and decision-makers to explore experiences of delivering PIC4C; (2) a cross-sectional survey of patients with diabetes or hypertension and in-depth interviews to understand how well PIC4C meets patients' needs; (3) a cohort study with an interrupted time series analysis to evaluate the degree to which PIC4C leads to health benefits such as improved management of hypertension or diabetes; and (4) a cohort study of households to examine the extent to which the national hospital insurance chronic care package provides financial risk protection to people with hypertension or diabetes within PIC4C. ETHICS AND DISSEMINATION The study has received approvals from Moi University Institutional Research and Ethics Committee (FAN:0003586) and the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine (17940). Workshops with key stakeholders at local, county, national and international levels will ensure early and wide dissemination of our findings to inform scale up of this model of care. We will also publish findings in peer-reviewed journals.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ellen Nolte
- Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Jemima H Kamano
- School of Medicine, Moi University College of Health Sciences, Eldoret, Kenya
| | - Violet Naanyu
- School of Arts and Social Sciences, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya
| | - Anthony Etyang
- Department of Epidemiology and Demography, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Antonio Gasparrini
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Kara Hanson
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Hillary Koros
- Academic Model Providing Access to HealthCare (AMPATH), Eldoret, Kenya
| | - Richard Mugo
- Academic Model Providing Access to HealthCare (AMPATH), Eldoret, Kenya
| | - Adrianna Murphy
- Department of Health Services Research and Policy, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Robinson Oyando
- Health Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Triantafyllos Pliakas
- Department of Public Health, Environments and Society, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Vincent Were
- Health Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Ruth Willis
- Department of Global Health and Development, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - Edwine Barasa
- Health Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Pablo Perel
- Department of Non-communicable Disease Epidemiology, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
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Oyando R, Barasa E, Ataguba JE. Socioeconomic Inequity in the Screening and Treatment of Hypertension in Kenya: Evidence From a National Survey. Front Health Serv 2022; 2:786098. [PMID: 36925851 PMCID: PMC10012826 DOI: 10.3389/frhs.2022.786098] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/29/2021] [Accepted: 02/21/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022]
Abstract
Background Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) account for 50% of hospitalisations and 55% of inpatient deaths in Kenya. Hypertension is one of the major NCDs in Kenya. Equitable access and utilisation of screening and treatment interventions are critical for reducing the burden of hypertension. This study assessed horizontal equity (equal treatment for equal need) in the screening and treatment for hypertension. It also decomposed socioeconomic inequalities in care use in Kenya. Methods Cross-sectional data from the 2015 NCDs risk factors STEPwise survey, covering 4,500 adults aged 18-69 years were analysed. Socioeconomic inequality was assessed using concentration curves and concentration indices (CI), and inequity by the horizontal inequity (HI) index. A positive (negative) CI or HI value suggests a pro-rich (pro-poor) inequality or inequity. Socioeconomic inequality in screening and treatment for hypertension was decomposed into contributions of need [age, sex, and body mass index (BMI)] and non-need (wealth status, education, exposure to media, employment, and area of residence) factors using a standard decomposition method. Results The need for hypertension screening was higher among poorer than wealthier socioeconomic groups (CI = -0.077; p < 0.05). However, wealthier groups needed hypertension treatment more than poorer groups (CI = 0.293; p <0.001). Inequity in the use of hypertension screening (HI = 0.185; p < 0.001) and treatment (HI = 0.095; p < 0.001) were significantly pro-rich. Need factors such as sex and BMI were the largest contributors to inequalities in the use of screening services. By contrast, non-need factors like the area of residence, wealth, and employment status mainly contributed to inequalities in the utilisation of treatment services. Conclusion Among other things, the use of hypertension screening and treatment services in Kenya should be according to need to realise the Sustainable Development Goals for NCDs. Specifically, efforts to attain equity in healthcare use for hypertension services should be multi-sectoral and focused on crucial inequity drivers such as regional disparities in care use, poverty and educational attainment. Also, concerted awareness campaigns are needed to increase the uptake of screening services for hypertension.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robinson Oyando
- Health Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya.,Health Economics Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
| | - Edwine Barasa
- Health Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya.,Center for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, United Kingdom
| | - John E Ataguba
- Health Economics Unit, Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.,Department of Community Health Sciences, Rady Faculty of Health Sciences, Max Rady College of Medicine, University of Manitoba, Winnipeg, MB, Canada
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Oyando R, Orangi S, Mwanga D, Pinchoff J, Abuya T, Muluve E, Mbushi F, Austrian K, Barasa E. Assessing equity and the determinants of socio-economic impacts of COVID-19: Results from a cross-sectional survey in three counties in Kenya. Wellcome Open Res 2021. [DOI: 10.12688/wellcomeopenres.17367.1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/20/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: COVID-19 mitigation measures have major ramifications on all aspects of people’s livelihoods. Based on data collected in February 2021, we present an analysis of the socio-economic impacts of COVID-19 mitigation measures in three counties in Kenya. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional phone-based survey in three counties in Kenya to assess the level of disruption across seven domains: income, food insecurity, schooling, domestic tension/violence, communal violence, mental health, and decision-making. An overall disruption index was computed from the seven domains using principal component analysis. We used a linear regression model to examine the determinants of vulnerability to disruptions as measured by the index. We used concentration curves and indices to assess inequality in the disruption domains and the overall disruption index. Results: The level of disruption in income was the highest (74%), while the level of disruption for domestic tension/violence was the lowest (30%). Factors associated with increased vulnerability to the overall disruption index included: older age, being married, belonging in the lowest socio-economic tertile and receiving COVID-19 related assistance. The concentration curves showed that all the seven domains of disruption were disproportionately concentrated among households in the lowest socio-economic tertile, a finding that was supported by the concentration index of the overall disruption index (CI = - 0.022; p = 0.074). Conclusion: The COVID-19 mitigation measures resulted in unintended socio-economic effects that unfairly affected certain vulnerable groups such as those in the lowest socio-economic group and the elderly. Measures to protect households against the adverse socio-economic effects of the pandemic should be scaled up and targeted to the most vulnerable, with attention to the constantly evolving nature of the pandemic.
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Kairu A, Orangi S, Oyando R, Kabia E, Nguhiu P, Ong Ang O J, Mwirigi N, Laurence YV, Kitson N, Garcia Baena I, Vassall A, Barasa E, Sweeney S, Cunnama L. Cost of TB services in healthcare facilities in Kenya (No 3). Int J Tuberc Lung Dis 2021; 25:1028-1034. [PMID: 34886934 PMCID: PMC8675875 DOI: 10.5588/ijtld.21.0129] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 06/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND: The reduction of Kenya´s TB burden requires improving resource allocation both to and within the National TB, Leprosy and Lung Disease Program (NTLD-P). We aimed to estimate the unit costs of TB services for budgeting by NTLD-P, and allocative efficiency analyses for future National Strategic Plan (NSP) costing.METHODS: We estimated costs of all TB interventions in a sample of 20 public and private health facilities from eight counties. We calculated national-level unit costs from a health provider´s perspective using bottom-up (BU) and top-down (TD) approaches for the financial year 2017-2018 using Microsoft Excel and STATA v16.RESULTS: The mean unit cost for passive case-finding (PCF) was respectively US$38 and US$60 using the BU and TD approaches. The unit BU and TD costs of a 6-month first-line treatment (FLT) course, including monitoring tests, was respectively US$135 and US$160, while those for adult drug-resistant TB (DR-TB) treatment was respectively US$3,230.28 and US$3,926.52 for the 9-month short regimen. Intervention costs highlighted variations between BU and TD approaches. Overall, TD costs were higher than BU, as these are able to capture more costs due to inefficiency (breaks/downtime/leave).CONCLUSION: The activity-based TB unit costs form a comprehensive cost database, and the costing process has built-in capacity within the NTLD-P and international TB research networks, which will inform future TB budgeting processes.
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Affiliation(s)
- A Kairu
- Health Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - S Orangi
- Health Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - R Oyando
- Health Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - E Kabia
- Health Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - P Nguhiu
- Health Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - J Ong Ang O
- Centre for Respiratory Diseases Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - N Mwirigi
- Ministry of Health, Division of National Tuberculosis, Leprosy, and Lung Disease Program, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Y V Laurence
- Department of Global Health and Development, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, Centre for Health Economics in London, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - N Kitson
- Department of Global Health and Development, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, Centre for Health Economics in London, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - I Garcia Baena
- TB Monitoring and Evaluation, Global Tuberculosis Programme, World Health Organization, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - A Vassall
- Department of Global Health and Development, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, Centre for Health Economics in London, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - E Barasa
- Health Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - S Sweeney
- Department of Global Health and Development, Faculty of Public Health and Policy, Centre for Health Economics in London, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK
| | - L Cunnama
- Health Economics Unit and Division, School of Public Health and Family Medicine, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa
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Guleid FH, Oyando R, Kabia E, Mumbi A, Akech S, Barasa E. A bibliometric analysis of COVID-19 research in Africa. BMJ Glob Health 2021; 6:e005690. [PMID: 33972261 PMCID: PMC8111873 DOI: 10.1136/bmjgh-2021-005690] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/17/2021] [Revised: 04/19/2021] [Accepted: 04/20/2021] [Indexed: 01/08/2023] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The COVID-19 pandemic has led to an unprecedented global research effort to build a body of knowledge that can inform mitigation strategies. We carried out a bibliometric analysis to describe the COVID-19 research output in Africa in terms of setting, study design, research themes and author affiliation. METHODS We searched for articles published between 1 December 2019 and 3 January 2021 from various databases including PubMed, African Journals Online, medRxiv, Collabovid, the WHO global research database and Google. All article types and study design were included. RESULTS A total of 1296 articles were retrieved. 46.6% were primary research articles, 48.6% were editorial-type articles while 4.6% were secondary research articles. 20.3% articles used the entire continent of Africa as their study setting while South Africa (15.4%) was the most common country-focused setting. The most common research topics include 'country preparedness and response' (24.9%) and 'the direct and indirect health impacts of the pandemic' (21.6%). However, only 1.0% of articles focus on therapeutics and vaccines. 90.3% of the articles had at least one African researcher as author, 78.5% had an African researcher as first author, while 63.5% had an African researcher as last author. The University of Cape Town leads with the greatest number of first and last authors. 13% of the articles were published in medRxiv and of the studies that declared funding, the Wellcome Trust was the top funding body. CONCLUSIONS This study highlights Africa's COVID-19 research and the continent's existing capacity to carry out research that addresses local problems. However, more studies focused on vaccines and therapeutics are needed to inform local development. In addition, the uneven distribution of research productivity among African countries emphasises the need for increased investment where needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fatuma Hassan Guleid
- Policy Engagement & Knowledge Translation Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Robinson Oyando
- Health Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Evelyn Kabia
- Health Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Audrey Mumbi
- Health Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Samuel Akech
- Health Services Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Edwine Barasa
- Health Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
- Center for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Oyando R, Njoroge M, Nguhiu P, Sigilai A, Kirui F, Mbui J, Bukania Z, Obala A, Munge K, Etyang A, Barasa E. Patient costs of diabetes mellitus care in public health care facilities in Kenya. Int J Health Plann Manage 2019; 35:290-308. [PMID: 31621953 PMCID: PMC7043382 DOI: 10.1002/hpm.2905] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/21/2019] [Accepted: 09/05/2019] [Indexed: 11/08/2022] Open
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To estimate the direct and indirect costs of diabetes mellitus care at five public health facilities in Kenya. METHODS We conducted a cross-sectional study in two counties where diabetes patients aged 18 years and above were interviewed. Data on care-seeking costs were obtained from 163 patients seeking diabetes care at five public facilities using the cost-of-illness approach. Medicines and user charges were classified as direct health care costs while expenses on transport, food, and accommodation were classified as direct non-health care costs. Productivity losses due to diabetes were classified as indirect costs. We computed annual direct and indirect costs borne by these patients. RESULTS More than half (57.7%) of sampled patients had hypertension comorbidity. Overall, the mean annual direct patient cost was KES 53 907 (95% CI, 43 625.4-64 188.6) (US$ 528.5 [95% CI, 427.7-629.3]). Medicines accounted for 52.4%, transport 22.6%, user charges 17.5%, and food 7.5% of total direct costs. Overall mean annual indirect cost was KES 23 174 (95% CI, 20 910-25 438.8) (US$ 227.2 [95% CI, 205-249.4]). Patients reporting hypertension comorbidity incurred higher costs compared with diabetes-only patients. The incidence of catastrophic costs was 63.1% (95% CI, 55.7-70.7) and increased to 75.4% (95% CI, 68.3-82.1) when transport costs were included. CONCLUSION There are substantial direct and indirect costs borne by diabetic patients in seeking care from public facilities in Kenya. High incidence of catastrophic costs suggests diabetes services are unaffordable to majority of diabetic patients and illustrate the urgent need to improve financial risk protection to ensure access to care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robinson Oyando
- Health Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Martin Njoroge
- Health Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya.,Department of Clinical Sciences, Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine, Liverpool, UK
| | - Peter Nguhiu
- Health Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Antipa Sigilai
- Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, KiIifi, Kenya
| | - Fredrick Kirui
- Centre for Clinical Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Jane Mbui
- Centre for Clinical Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Zipporah Bukania
- Centre for Public Health Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Andrew Obala
- Medical Microbiology, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya
| | - Kenneth Munge
- Health Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Anthony Etyang
- Health Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya.,Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Kenya Medical Research Institute, KiIifi, Kenya
| | - Edwine Barasa
- Health Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya.,Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Etyang AO, Sigilai A, Odipo E, Oyando R, Ong'ayo G, Muthami L, Munge K, Kirui F, Mbui J, Bukania Z, Mwai J, Obala A, Barasa E. Diagnostic Accuracy of Unattended Automated Office Blood Pressure Measurement in Screening for Hypertension in Kenya. Hypertension 2019; 74:1490-1498. [PMID: 31587589 PMCID: PMC7069390 DOI: 10.1161/hypertensionaha.119.13574] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/01/2023]
Abstract
Supplemental Digital Content is available in the text. Despite increasing adoption of unattended automated office blood pressure (uAOBP) measurement for determining clinic blood pressure (BP), its diagnostic performance in screening for hypertension in low-income settings has not been determined. We determined the validity of uAOBP in screening for hypertension, using 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring as the reference standard. We studied a random population sample of 982 Kenyan adults; mean age, 42 years; 60% women; 2% with diabetes mellitus; none taking antihypertensive medications. We calculated sensitivity using 3 different screen positivity cutoffs (≥130/80, ≥135/85, and ≥140/90 mm Hg) and other measures of validity/agreement. Mean 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring systolic BP was similar to mean uAOBP systolic BP (mean difference, 0.6 mm Hg; 95% CI, −0.6 to 1.9), but the 95% limits of agreement were wide (−39 to 40 mm Hg). Overall discriminatory accuracy of uAOBP was the same (area under receiver operating characteristic curves, 0.66–0.68; 95% CI range, 0.64–0.71) irrespective of uAOBP cutoffs used. Sensitivity of uAOBP displayed an inverse association (P<0.001) with the cutoff selected, progressively decreasing from 67% (95% CI, 62–72) when using a cutoff of ≥130/80 mm Hg to 55% (95% CI, 49–60) at ≥135/85 mm Hg to 44% (95% CI, 39–49) at ≥140/90 mm Hg. Diagnostic performance was significantly better (P<0.001) in overweight and obese individuals (body mass index, >25 kg/m2). No differences in results were present in other subanalyses. uAOBP misclassifies significant proportions of individuals undergoing screening for hypertension in Kenya. Additional studies on how to improve screening strategies in this setting are needed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anthony O Etyang
- From the Epidemiology and Demography Department, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (A.O.E., A.S., E.O., G.O.)
| | - Antipa Sigilai
- From the Epidemiology and Demography Department, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (A.O.E., A.S., E.O., G.O.)
| | - Emily Odipo
- From the Epidemiology and Demography Department, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (A.O.E., A.S., E.O., G.O.)
| | - Robinson Oyando
- Health Economics Research Unit, KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya (R.O., K.M., E.B.)
| | - Gerald Ong'ayo
- From the Epidemiology and Demography Department, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme (A.O.E., A.S., E.O., G.O.)
| | - Lawrence Muthami
- Centre for Public Health Research (L.M., Z.B., J.M.), Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi
| | - Kenneth Munge
- Health Economics Research Unit, KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya (R.O., K.M., E.B.)
| | - Fredrick Kirui
- Centre for Clinical Research (F.K., J.M.), Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi
| | - Jane Mbui
- Centre for Clinical Research (F.K., J.M.), Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi
| | - Zipporah Bukania
- Centre for Public Health Research (L.M., Z.B., J.M.), Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi
| | - Judy Mwai
- Centre for Public Health Research (L.M., Z.B., J.M.), Kenya Medical Research Institute, Nairobi
| | | | - Edwine Barasa
- Health Economics Research Unit, KEMRI Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya (R.O., K.M., E.B.)
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Oyando R, Njoroge M, Nguhiu P, Kirui F, Mbui J, Sigilai A, Bukania Z, Obala A, Munge K, Etyang A, Barasa E. Patient costs of hypertension care in public health care facilities in Kenya. Int J Health Plann Manage 2019; 34:e1166-e1178. [PMID: 30762904 PMCID: PMC6618067 DOI: 10.1002/hpm.2752] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/15/2019] [Accepted: 01/16/2019] [Indexed: 11/09/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Hypertension in low‐ and middle‐income countries, including Kenya, is of economic importance due to its increasing prevalence and its potential to present an economic burden to households. In this study, we examined the patient costs associated with obtaining care for hypertension in public health care facilities in Kenya. Methods We conducted a cross‐sectional study among adult respondents above 18 years of age, with at least 6 months of treatment in two counties. A total of 212 patients seeking hypertension care at five public facilities were interviewed, and information on care seeking and the associated costs was obtained. We computed both annual direct and indirect costs borne by these patients. Results Overall, the mean annual direct cost to patients was US$ 304.8 (95% CI, 235.7‐374.0). Medicines (mean annual cost, US$ 168.9; 95% CI, 132.5‐205.4), transport (mean annual cost, US$ 126.7; 95% CI, 77.6‐175.9), and user charges (mean annual cost, US$ 57.7; 95% CI, 43.7‐71.6) were the highest direct cost categories. Overall mean annual indirect cost was US$ 171.7 (95% CI, 152.8‐190.5). The incidence of catastrophic health care costs was 43.3% (95% CI, 36.8‐50.2) and increased to 59.0% (95% CI, 52.2‐65.4) when transport costs were included. Conclusions Hypertensive patients incur substantial direct and indirect costs. High rates of catastrophic costs illustrate the urgency of improving financial risk protection for these patients and strengthening primary care to ensure affordability of hypertension care.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robinson Oyando
- Health Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Martin Njoroge
- Health Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Peter Nguhiu
- Health Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Fredrick Kirui
- Clinical Unit, KEMRI Centre for Clinical Research, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Jane Mbui
- Clinical Unit, KEMRI Centre for Clinical Research, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Antipa Sigilai
- Epidemiology and Demography, KEMRI Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Coast, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Zipporah Bukania
- Public health nutrition, maternal and child health unit, KEMRI Centre for Public Health Research, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Andrew Obala
- Medical Microbiology and Parasitology, Moi University, Eldoret, Kenya
| | - Kenneth Munge
- Health Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Anthony Etyang
- Epidemiology and Demography, KEMRI Centre for Geographic Medicine Research, Coast, Kilifi, Kenya
| | - Edwine Barasa
- Health Economics Research Unit, KEMRI-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya.,Nuffield Department of Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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Githinji S, Oyando R, Malinga J, Ejersa W, Soti D, Rono J, Snow RW, Buff AM, Noor AM. Completeness of malaria indicator data reporting via the District Health Information Software 2 in Kenya, 2011-2015. Malar J 2017; 16:344. [PMID: 28818071 PMCID: PMC5561621 DOI: 10.1186/s12936-017-1973-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 35] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/24/2017] [Accepted: 08/04/2017] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Health facility-based data reported through routine health information systems form the primary data source for programmatic monitoring and evaluation in most developing countries. The adoption of District Health Information Software (DHIS2) has contributed to improved availability of routine health facility-based data in many low-income countries. An assessment of malaria indicators data reported by health facilities in Kenya during the first 5 years of implementation of DHIS2, from January 2011 to December 2015, was conducted. Methods Data on 19 malaria indicators reported monthly by health facilities were extracted from the online Kenya DHIS2 database. Completeness of reporting was analysed for each of the 19 malaria indicators and expressed as the percentage of data values actually reported over the expected number; all health facilities were expected to report data for each indicator for all 12 months in a year. Results Malaria indicators data were analysed for 6235 public and 3143 private health facilities. Between 2011 and 2015, completeness of reporting in the public sector increased significantly for confirmed malaria cases across all age categories (26.5–41.9%, p < 0.0001, in children aged <5 years; 30.6–51.4%, p < 0.0001, in persons aged ≥5 years). Completeness of reporting of new antenatal care (ANC) clients increased from 53.7 to 70.5%, p < 0.0001). Completeness of reporting of intermittent preventive treatment in pregnancy (IPTp) decreased from 64.8 to 53.7%, p < 0.0001 for dose 1 and from 64.6 to 53.4%, p < 0.0001 for dose 2. Data on malaria tests performed and test results were not available in DHIS2 from 2011 to 2014. In 2015, sparse data on microscopy (11.5% for children aged <5 years; 11.8% for persons aged ≥5 years) and malaria rapid diagnostic tests (RDTs) (8.1% for all ages) were reported. In the private sector, completeness of reporting increased significantly for confirmed malaria cases across all age categories (16.7–23.1%, p < 0.0001, in children aged <5 years; 19.4–28.6%, p < 0.0001, in persons aged ≥5 years). Completeness of reporting also improved for new ANC clients (16.2–23.6%, p < 0.0001), and for IPTp doses 1 and 2 (16.6–20.2%, p < 0.0001 and 15.5–20.5%, p < 0.0001, respectively). In 2015, less than 3% of data values for malaria tests performed were reported in DHIS2 from the private sector. Conclusions There have been sustained improvements in the completeness of data reported for most key malaria indicators since the adoption of DHIS2 in Kenya in 2011. However, major data gaps were identified for the malaria-test indicator and overall low reporting across all indicators from private health facilities. A package of proven DHIS2 implementation interventions and performance-based incentives should be considered to improve private-sector data reporting. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12936-017-1973-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sophie Githinji
- Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya.
| | - Robinson Oyando
- Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Josephine Malinga
- Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Waqo Ejersa
- National Malaria Control Programme, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - David Soti
- Division of Monitoring and Evaluation, Health Research Development and Health Informatics, Ministry of Health, Nairobi, Kenya
| | | | - Robert W Snow
- Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya.,Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
| | - Ann M Buff
- Malaria Branch, Division of Parasitic Diseases and Malaria, Center for Global Health, U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Nairobi, Kenya.,U.S. President's Malaria Initiative - Kenya, Nairobi, Kenya
| | - Abdisalan M Noor
- Kenya Medical Research Institute-Wellcome Trust Research Programme, Nairobi, Kenya.,Centre for Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nuffield Department of Clinical Medicine, University of Oxford, Oxford, UK
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