Household Cost of Seeking Diabetic Healthcare in the Tano North District of the Brong Ahafo Region
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Date
2015-02-20
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Abstract
Background: Diabetes Mellitus is now a pandemic. Globally it exerts a huge toll on sufferers and their households both financially and emotionally. The chronicity and complexity of the disease leads to diverse financial and psychological stress especially at the household level. This study sought to estimate the household cost of diabetes mellitus to aid stakeholders forge a better and more effective remedial course in ensuring that diabetic patients and their households live a longer and better life.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted from July to October, 2013 among 424 diabetic patients aged between 12 and 80 years who attended the Specialized Diabetes Clinic at St. John of God Hospital in the Tano North District of the BrongAhafo Region, Ghana. Participants were interviewed using a structured questionnaire and secondary data was reviewed from hospital records. The variables for the study were analyzed at the univariate, bivariate and multivariate levelsat 95% confidence interval in STATA software. Sensitivity analyses for the cost estimates were done to ascertain the robustness of the data.
Results:The mean household cost of seeking diabetic health care was GH¢ 146.70 (USD 58.64) (SD=79.78)monthly, per diabetic patient out of which the meandirect cost constituted about 92.16% [GH¢ 135.10 (USD 54.04); (SD= 79.59)] (which forms about66.3% of the mean income [GH¢250.45 (USD 100.18); (SD=65.06)] of each patient). Cost of preparation of special diet formed the highest component [GH¢108 (USD 43.2)] of the mean direct cost of seeking diabetic health care. The mean indirect cost constituted about 7.84% [GH¢ 11.50 (USD 4.6) (SD=5.42)] of the mean household cost permonthfor each diabetic patient. Losses due to productivity were mainly due to the time spent by patients when seeking diabetic healthcare (mean number of hours spent out of work was 15.74 (SD= 7.83). Household cost of seeking diabetic health care per patient could increase by about 7.7% per annum assuming the discount rates of: 3%, 5% and 7% and the current inflation rate of 13.5% (excluding any inflationary changes).
Conclusion: The household cost; both financial and non- financial of diabetes mellitus is significant, accounting for more than two- thirds of the household’s incomeand has adverse implications on the healthcare and quality of life of the diabetic patient and his household. It is therefore recommended that all stakeholders actively get involved in forging a remedial course.
Description
A Thesis submitted to the Department Of Community Health, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Public Health in Health Services Planning and Management,