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Sultana M, Watts JJ, Alam NH, Faruque ASG, Fuchs GJ, Gyr N, Ali N, Chisti MJ, Ahmed T, Abimanyi-Ochom J, Gold L. Cost of childhood severe pneumonia management in selected public inpatient care facilities in Bangladesh: a provider perspective. Arch Dis Child 2024; 109:622-627. [PMID: 38621857 DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2022-325222] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/09/2022] [Accepted: 04/08/2024] [Indexed: 04/17/2024]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To estimate inpatient care costs of childhood severe pneumonia and its urban-rural cost variation, and to predict cost drivers. DESIGN The study was nested within a cluster randomised trial of childhood severe pneumonia management. Cost per episode of severe pneumonia was estimated from a healthcare provider perspective for children who received care from public inpatient facilities. A bottom-up micro-costing approach was applied and data collected using structured questionnaire and review of the patient record. Multivariate regression analysis determined cost predictors and sensitivity analysis explored robustness of cost parameters. SETTING Eight public inpatient care facilities from two districts of Bangladesh covering urban and rural areas. PATIENTS Children aged 2-59 months with WHO-classified severe pneumonia. RESULTS Data on 1252 enrolled children were analysed; 795 (64%) were male, 787 (63%) were infants and 59% from urban areas. Average length of stay (LoS) was 4.8 days (SD ±2.5) and mean cost per patient was US$48 (95% CI: US$46, US$49). Mean cost per patient was significantly greater for urban tertiary-level facilities compared with rural primary-secondary facilities (mean difference US$43; 95% CI: US$40, US$45). No cost variation was found relative to age, sex, malnutrition or hypoxaemia. Type of facility was the most important cost predictor. LoS and personnel costs were the most sensitive cost parameters. CONCLUSION Healthcare provider cost of childhood severe pneumonia was substantial for urban located public health facilities that provided tertiary-level care. Thus, treatment availability at a lower-level facility at a rural location may help to reduce overall treatment costs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marufa Sultana
- Deakin Health Economics, Institute for Health Transformation, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Jennifer J Watts
- Deakin Health Economics, Institute for Health Transformation, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nur H Alam
- Nutrition and Clinical Services Division, icddr,b, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - A S G Faruque
- Nutrition and Clinical Services Division, icddr,b, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - George J Fuchs
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Kentucky College of Medicine, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Niklaus Gyr
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Nausad Ali
- Nutrition and Clinical Services Division, icddr,b, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Md Jobayer Chisti
- Nutrition and Clinical Services Division, icddr,b, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Tahmeed Ahmed
- Nutrition and Clinical Services Division, icddr,b, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Julie Abimanyi-Ochom
- Deakin Health Economics, Institute for Health Transformation, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Lisa Gold
- Deakin Health Economics, Institute for Health Transformation, School of Health and Social Development, Faculty of Health, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
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Ameen S, Shafiq SS, Ashrafee S, Saberin A, Saha PK, Alam HMS, Nahar S, Sarkar S, Adnan SD, ANM Ehtesham K, Amena B, Ahmed S, Khan MN, Banik G, Jabeen S, Hossain AT, Sarkar SS, Ahmed A, Chisti MJ, Islam MS, Islam MJ, El Arifeen S, Rahman AE. Stakeholder engagement to introduce a standardised register for improved inpatient care of newborns and sick children in Bangladesh. J Glob Health 2024; 14:04082. [PMID: 38751308 PMCID: PMC11096775 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.14.04082] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/19/2024] Open
Abstract
Background Despite a global decrease of 59% in under-five mortality rates from 1990 to 2021, child survival remains a pressing issue. This holds true for Bangladesh, as well. In response, the Government of Bangladesh introduced a standardised register for strengthening the inpatient management of newborns and sick children in 2021. Methods We employed a comprehensive four-phase stakeholder engagement process to implement an inpatient register for newborns and sick children. The first stage included identifying and prioritising potential stakeholders at the national and district levels. We identified eight organisations involved in newborn and child health and selected 24 participants from various other sectors for workshops aimed at raising awareness about the register's introduction. These stakeholders also participated in the register's design, development strategies planning, and implementation phases. These phases were led by the 'National Newborn Health and IMCI programme' with support from various partners. A technical working group reviewed existing registers and helped prepare training materials. Feedback from each workshop was crucial in finalising the register. Results The Government of Bangladesh has recognised the need for an indoor register for newborns and sick children, which was to be established in collaboration with development partners. This initiative can enhance the quality of care for sick children and increase service provider accountability. Due to its successful implementation, it will continue to be used in the Kushtia and Dinajpur districts, with plans for a nationwide scale-up. The Government has allocated funds in the next health sector programme for orientation and register printing. A strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats (SWOT) analysis of the stakeholder engagement process highlighted strengths such as a context-specific approach and collaborative engagement, as well as challenges such as time resource requirements. Conclusions Implementing an inpatient register for newborns and sick children through stakeholder engagement can effectively improve child health care services. Aside from challenges such as resource intensiveness and stakeholder commitments, success depended on the organising authority's expertise in relationship building, budget allocation, time management, and workforce dedication. Therefore, strategic planning, staff recruitment, networking, and budgeting are crucial for successful stakeholder engagement and health care initiatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shafiqul Ameen
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Sabit Saad Shafiq
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Sabina Ashrafee
- Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Ashfia Saberin
- Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Palash Kumar Saha
- Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Husam Md Shah Alam
- Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Salmun Nahar
- Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Supriya Sarkar
- Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Sheikh Daud Adnan
- Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | | | - Sabbir Ahmed
- Projahnmo Research Foundation, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | | | - Sabrina Jabeen
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Aniqa Tasnim Hossain
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Sadman Sowmik Sarkar
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Anisuddin Ahmed
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammod Jobayer Chisti
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | | | - Md Jahurul Islam
- Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS), Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Shams El Arifeen
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Ahmed Ehsanur Rahman
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka, Bangladesh
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Mdege ND, Masuku SD, Musakwa N, Chisala M, Tingum EN, Boachie MK, Shokraneh F. Costs and cost-effectiveness of treatment setting for children with wasting, oedema and growth failure/faltering: A systematic review. PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH 2023; 3:e0002551. [PMID: 37939029 PMCID: PMC10631642 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pgph.0002551] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/05/2023] [Accepted: 10/05/2023] [Indexed: 11/10/2023]
Abstract
This systematic review aimed to address the existing evidence gaps, and guide policy decisions on the settings within which to treat infants <12 months of age with growth faltering/failure, and infants and children aged <60 months with moderate wasting or severe wasting and/or bilateral pitting oedema. Twelve electronic databases were searched for studies published before 10 December 2021. The searches yielded 16,709 records from which 31 studies were eligible and included in the review. Three studies were judged as low quality, whilst 14 were moderate and the remaining 14 were high quality. We identified very few cost and cost-effectiveness analyses for most of the models of care with the certainty of evidence being judged at very low or low. However, there were 17 cost and 6 cost-effectiveness analyses for the initiation of treatment in outpatient settings for severe wasting and/or bilateral pitting oedema in infants and children <60 months of age. From this evidence, the costs appear lowest for initiating treatment in community settings, followed by initiating treatment in community and transferring to outpatient settings, initiating treatment in outpatients then transferring to community settings, initiating treatment in outpatient settings, and lastly initiating treatment in inpatient settings. In addition, the evidence suggested that initiation of treatment in outpatient settings is highly cost-effective when compared to doing nothing or no programme implementation scenarios, using country-specific WHO GDP per capita thresholds. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratios ranged from $20 to $145 per DALY averted from a provider perspective, and $68 to $161 per DALY averted from a societal perspective. However, the certainty of the evidence was judged as moderate because of comparisons to do nothing/ no programme scenarios which potentially limits the applicability of the evidence in real-world settings. There is therefore a need for evidence that compare the different available alternatives.
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Affiliation(s)
- Noreen Dadirai Mdege
- Department of Health Sciences, University of York, York, United Kingdom
- Centre for Research in Health and Development, York, United Kingdom
| | - Sithabiso D. Masuku
- Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Nozipho Musakwa
- Health Economics and Epidemiology Research Office, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, South Africa
| | - Mphatso Chisala
- Department of Population, Policy and Practice, Great Ormond Street Hospital, Institute of Child Health, University College London, London, United Kingdom
| | | | - Micheal Kofi Boachie
- Discipline of Public Health Medicine, School of Nursing and Public Health, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Durban, South Africa
| | - Farhad Shokraneh
- Department of Evidence Synthesis, Systematic Review Consultants LTD, Nottingham, United Kingdom
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Wilkes C, Graham H, Walker P, Duke T. Which children with chest-indrawing pneumonia can be safely treated at home, and under what conditions is it safe to do so? A systematic review of evidence from low- and middle-income countries. J Glob Health 2022; 12:10008. [PMID: 36040992 PMCID: PMC9428503 DOI: 10.7189/jogh.12.10008] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/26/2022] Open
Abstract
Background WHO pneumonia guidelines recommend that children (aged 2-59 months) with chest indrawing pneumonia and without any "general danger sign" can be treated with oral amoxicillin without hospital admission. This recommendation was based on trial data from limited contexts whose generalisability is unclear. This review aimed to identify which children with chest-indrawing pneumonia in low- and middle-income countries can be safely treated at home, and under what conditions is it safe to do so. Methods We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and PubMed for observational and interventional studies of home-based management of children (aged 28 days to four years) with chest-indrawing pneumonia in low- or middle-income countries. Results We included 14 studies, including seven randomised trials, from a variety of urban and rural contexts in 11 countries. Two community-based and two hospital-based trials in Pakistan and India found that home treatment of chest-indrawing pneumonia was associated with similar or superior treatment outcomes to hospital admission. Evidence from trials (n = 3) and observational (n = 6) studies in these and other countries confirms the acceptability and feasibility of home management of chest-indrawing pneumonia in low-risk cases, so long as safeguards are in place. Risk assessment includes clinical danger signs, oxygen saturation, and the presence of comorbidities such as undernutrition, anaemia, or HIV. Pulse oximetry is a critical risk-assessment tool that is currently not widely available and can identify severely ill patients with hypoxaemia otherwise possibly missed by clinical assessment alone. Additional safeguards include caregiver understanding and ability to return for review. Conclusions Home treatment of chest-indrawing pneumonia can be safe but should only be recommended for children confirmed to be low-risk and in contexts where appropriate care and safety measures are in place.
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Shahrin L, Chisti MJ, Sarmin M, Rahman ASMMH, Shahid ASMSB, Islam MZ, Afroze F, Huq S, Ahmed T. Intravenous Amoxicillin Plus Intravenous Gentamicin for Children with Severe Pneumonia in Bangladesh: An Open-Label, Randomized, Non-Inferiority Controlled Trial. Life (Basel) 2021; 11:1299. [PMID: 34947830 PMCID: PMC8707665 DOI: 10.3390/life11121299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/28/2021] [Revised: 11/16/2021] [Accepted: 11/23/2021] [Indexed: 11/29/2022] Open
Abstract
The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends intravenous (IV) ampicillin and gentamicin as first-line therapy to treat severe pneumonia in children under five years of age. Ampicillin needs to be administered at a six-hourly interval, which requires frequent nursing intervention and bed occupancy for 5-7 days, limiting its utility in resource-poor settings. We compared the efficacy of IV amoxicillin over IV ampicillin, which is a potential alternative drug in treating severe pneumonia in children between 2-59 months. We conducted an unblinded, randomized, controlled, non-inferiority trial in the Dhaka hospital of icddr,b from 1 January 2018 to 31 October 2019. Children from 2-59 months of age presenting with WHO defined severe pneumonia with respiratory danger signs were randomly assigned 1:1 to either 50 mg/kg ampicillin or 40 mg/kg amoxicillin per day with 7.5 mg/kg gentamicin. The primary outcome was treatment failure as per the standard definition of persistence of danger sign(s) of severe pneumonia beyond 48 h or deterioration within 24 h of therapy initiation. The secondary outcomes were: (i) time required for resolution of danger signs since enrolment, (ii) length of hospital stay, (iii) death during hospitalization, and (iv) rate of nosocomial infections. Among 308 enrolled participants, baseline characteristics were similar among the two groups. Sixty-two (20%) children ended up with treatment failure, 21 (14%) in amoxicillin, and 41 (27%) in ampicillin arm, which is statistically significant (relative risk [RR] 0.51, 95% CI 0.32-0.82; p = 0.004). We reported 14 deaths for serious adverse events, 4 (3%) and 10 (6%) among amoxicillin and ampicillin arm, respectively. IV amoxicillin and IV gentamicin combination is not inferior to combined IV ampicillin and IV gentamicin in treating severe pneumonia in under-five children in Bangladesh. Considering the less frequent dosing and more compliance, IV amoxicillin is a better choice for treating children with severe pneumonia in resource-limited settings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lubaba Shahrin
- Head Acute Respiratory Infection Unit, Dhaka Hospital, Nutrition and Clinical Services Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
| | - Mohammod Jobayer Chisti
- Head Clinical Research Unit, Nutrition and Clinical Services Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
| | - Monira Sarmin
- Nutrition and Clinical Services Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
| | - Abu Sayem Mirza Md Hasibur Rahman
- Nutrition and Clinical Services Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
| | | | - Md Zahidul Islam
- Nutrition and Clinical Services Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
| | - Farzana Afroze
- Nutrition and Clinical Services Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
| | - Sayeeda Huq
- Nutrition and Clinical Services Division, International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
| | - Tahmeed Ahmed
- International Centre for Diarrhoeal Disease Research, Bangladesh (icddr,b), Dhaka 1000, Bangladesh
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Clinical Characteristics and Underlying Factors Related to Recovery from Severe Pneumonia in Under-Five Children with or without Malnutrition Treated at Health Care Facilities in Bangladesh. CHILDREN-BASEL 2021; 8:children8090778. [PMID: 34572210 PMCID: PMC8471729 DOI: 10.3390/children8090778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2021] [Revised: 08/26/2021] [Accepted: 09/01/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Severe pneumonia with co-morbidity of malnutrition is one of the leading causes of death among children younger than five years of age. We aimed to compare the clinical features related to recovery from severe pneumonia in malnourished and well-nourished under-five children. A significantly lesser proportion of malnourished children compared to well-nourished recovered from rapid breathing (86.5% vs. 90.2%; p = 0.035), chest wall in-drawing (90.5% vs. 93.9%; p = 0.019), and fever (92.2% vs. 95.2%; p = 0.021) on day six after admission to health-care facilities. Malnourished children with severe pneumonia had significantly more rapid breathing (Adjusted Odds Ratio (AOR)) 1.636, 95% Confidence interval (CI) 1.150–2.328 p = 0.006), chest wall in-drawing (AOR 1.698, 95% CI 1.113–2.590, p = 0.014), and fever (AOR 1.700, 95% CI 1.066–2.710, p = 0.026) compared to those in well-nourished children. The study results suggested the lesser disappearance of clinical features among the malnourished children in Bangladesh underscores their vulnerability to severe pneumonia.
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Sultana M, Alam NH, Ali N, Faruque ASG, Fuchs GJ, Gyr N, Chisti MJ, Ahmed T, Gold L. Household economic burden of childhood severe pneumonia in Bangladesh: a cost-of-illness study. Arch Dis Child 2021; 106:539-546. [PMID: 33906852 PMCID: PMC8142430 DOI: 10.1136/archdischild-2020-320834] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/21/2022]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE To estimate household cost of illness (COI) for children with severe pneumonia in Bangladesh. DESIGN An incidence-based COI study was performed for one episode of childhood severe pneumonia from a household perspective. Face-to-face interviews collected data on socioeconomic, resource use and cost from caregivers. A micro-costing bottom-up approach was applied to calculate medical, non-medical and time costs. Multiple regression analysis was applied to explore the factors associated with COI. Sensitivity analysis explored the robustness of cost parameters. SETTING Four urban and rural study sites from two districts in Bangladesh. PATIENTS Children aged 2-59 months with severe pneumonia. RESULTS 1472 children with severe pneumonia were enrolled between November 2015 and March 2019. The mean age of children was 12 months (SD ±10.2) and 64% were male. The mean household cost per episode was US$147 (95% CI 141.1 to 152.7). Indirect costs were the main cost drivers (65%, US$96). Household costs for the poorest income quintile were lower in absolute terms, but formed a higher proportion of monthly income. COI was significantly higher if treatment was received from urban health facilities compared with rural health facilities (difference US$84.9, 95% CI 73.3 to 96.3). Child age, household income, healthcare facility and hospital length of stay (LoS) were significant predictors of household COI. Costs were most sensitive to hospital LoS and productivity loss. CONCLUSIONS Severe pneumonia in young children is associated with high household economic burden and cost varies significantly across socioeconomic parameters. Management strategies with improved accessibility are needed particularly for the poor to make treatment affordable in order to reduce household economic burden.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marufa Sultana
- Nutrition and Clinical Services Division, icddr,b, Dhaka, Bangladesh .,Deakin Health Economics, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
| | - Nur H Alam
- Nutrition and Clinical Services Division, icddr, b, Dhaka, Bangladesh,Clinical Sciences Division (CSD), Centre for Nutrition and Food Security (CNFS), Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Nausad Ali
- Nutrition and Clinical Services Division, icddr, b, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - A S G Faruque
- Nutrition and Clinical Services Division, icddr, b, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - George J Fuchs
- Department of Paediatrics, University of Kentucky College of Medicine and Department of Epidemiology, College of Public Health, University of Kentucky, Lexington, Kentucky, USA
| | - Niklaus Gyr
- Department of Internal Medicine, University of Basel, Basel, Switzerland
| | - Md Jobayer Chisti
- Nutrition and Clinical Services Division, icddr, b, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Tahmeed Ahmed
- Nutrition and Clinical Services Division, icddr, b, Dhaka, Bangladesh
| | - Lisa Gold
- Deakin Health Economics, School of Health and Social Development, Deakin University, Geelong, Victoria, Australia
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