De Broucker G, Ssebagereka A, Apolot RR, Aloysius M, Ekirapa Kiracho E, Patenaude B, Constenla D. The economic burden of measles in children under five in Uganda.
Vaccine X 2020;
6:100077. [PMID:
33073228 PMCID:
PMC7548439 DOI:
10.1016/j.jvacx.2020.100077]
[Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [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] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2020] [Revised: 09/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/08/2020] [Indexed: 11/24/2022] Open
Abstract
Measles costed over $135,627 in societal costs for 2018, incl. $59,357 to households.
Ugandan caregivers faced $44 in economic costs incl. $23 in out-of-pocket payments.
Measles deepens the inequalities in access to healthcare in the population.
Background
There is very limited evidence about the economic cost of measles in low-income countries. We estimated the cost of treating measles in Uganda from a societal perspective.
Methods
We conducted an incidence-based cost-of-illness study in Uganda. We surveyed the facility staff, recording hospital-related expenditures for measles patients. We interviewed caregivers of children with measles at 48 selected healthcare facilities. We conducted phone interviews with caregivers 7–14 days post-discharge to capture additional out-of-pocket expenses and time costs.
Results
From a societal perspective, a hospitalized and an ambulatory episode of measles cost 2018 US$ 60 and $15, respectively. The government spent on average $12 and $5 per hospitalized and ambulatory episode of measles. Including both public and private facilities, caregivers incurred approximately $44 in economic costs, including $23 in out-of-pocket expenses. In 2018, 2614 cases of measles were confirmed, resulting in $135,627 in societal costs, including $59,357 in economic costs to Ugandan households.
Conclusion
This cost-of-illness study is the first to use empirical methods to quantify the economic burden of measles in a low-income country. Information related to the cost of treating measles is important for guiding decisions related to changes in measles control and prevention.
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