Patient-incurred cost of inpatient treatment for Tuberculosis in rural Malawi.

ABSTRACT:

Objectives

To mitigate the economic burden of tuberculosis (TB), it is important to fully understand the costs of TB treatment from the patient perspective. We therefore sought to quantify the patient-incurred cost of TB treatment in rural Malawi, with specific focus on costs borne by patients requiring inpatient hospitalisation.

Methods

We conducted a cross-sectional survey of 197 inpatients and 156 outpatients being treated for TB in rural Malawi. We collected data on out-of-pocket costs and lost wages, including costs to guardians. Costs for inpatient TB treatment were estimated and compared to costs for outpatient TB treatment. We then explored the equity distribution of inpatient TB treatment cost using concentration curves.

Results

Despite free government servic

SUBMITTER: Shin H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC7658961 | biostudies-literature | 2020 May

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature