The economic burden of diarrhea in children under 5 years in Bangladesh.
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ABSTRACT: Background
Diarrhea is a leading cause of morbidity and mortality among under-five children in Bangladesh. Hospitalization for diarrhea can pose a significant burden on households and health systems. The aim of this study was to estimate the cost of illness due to diarrhea from the healthcare facility, caregiver, and societal perspectives in Bangladesh.Method
A cross-sectional study with an ingredient-based costing approach was conducted in 48 healthcare facilities in Bangladesh. In total, 899 caregivers of under-five children with diarrhea were interviewed face-to-face between August 2017 and May 2018, followed up over phone after 7-14 days of discharge, to capture all expenses and time costs related to the entire episode of diarrhea.Results
The average cost per episode for caregivers was US$62, with $29 direct and $34 indirect costs. From the societal perspective, average cost per episode of diarrhea was $71. In 2018, an estimated $79 million of economic costs were incurred for treating diarrhea in Bangladesh. Using 10% of income as threshold, over 46% of interviewed households faced catastrophic expenditure from diarrheal disease.Conclusion
The economic costs incurred by caregivers for treating per-episode of diarrhea was around 4% of the annual national gross domestic product per-capita. Investment in vaccination can help to reduce the prevalence of diarrheal diseases and avert this public health burden.
SUBMITTER: Hasan MZ
PROVIDER: S-EPMC8208894 | biostudies-literature |
REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature
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Project description:BackgroundThis study estimated the economic cost of treating measles in children under-5 in Bangladesh from the caregiver, government, and societal perspectives.MethodWe conducted an incidence-based study using an ingredient-based approach. We surveyed the administrative staff and the healthcare professionals at the facilities, recording their estimates supported by administrative data from the healthcare perspective. We conducted 100 face-to-face caregiver interviews at discharge and phone interviews 7 to 14?days post-discharge to capture all expenses, including time costs related to measles. All costs are in 2018 USD ($).ResultsFrom a societal perspective, a hospitalized and ambulatory case of measles cost $159 and $18, respectively. On average, the government spent $22 per hospitalized case of measles. At the same time, caregivers incurred $131 and $182 in economic costs, including $48 and $83 in out-of-pocket expenses in public and private not-for-profit facilities, respectively. Seventy-eight percent of the poorest caregivers faced catastrophic health expenditures compared to 21% of the richest. In 2018, 2263 cases of measles were confirmed, totaling $348,073 in economic costs to Bangladeshi society, with $121,842 in out-of-pocket payments for households.ConclusionThe resurgence of measles outbreaks is a substantial cost for society, requiring significant short-term public expenditures, putting households into a precarious financial situation. Improving vaccination coverage in areas where it is deficient (Sylhet division in our study) would likely alleviate most of this burden.
| S-EPMC7653835 | biostudies-literature
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| S-EPMC10451101 | biostudies-literature
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| S-EPMC4882705 | biostudies-literature
Project description:We report the clinical findings, epidemiology, and risk factors for moderate-to-severe diarrhea (MSD) associated with Aeromonas species in children 0-59 months of age, from the Global Enteric Multicenter Study, conducted at three sites in south Asia and four sites in sub-Saharan Africa. Children with MSD were enrolled along with controls matched for age, gender, and neighborhood. Pooled, age-stratified conditional logistic regression models were applied to evaluate the association of Aeromonas infection controlling for coinfecting pathogens and sociodemographic variables. A pooled, age-stratified, multivariate logistic regression analysis was done to identify risk factors associated with Aeromonas positivity in MSD cases. A total of 12,110 cases and 17,291 matched controls were enrolled over a period of 48 months. Aeromonas was identified as a significant pathogen in 736 cases of MSD in Pakistan and Bangladesh (22.2%). Aeromonas remained a significant pathogen even after adjustment for the presence of other pathogens and sociodemographic factors. Odds ratio (OR) for Aeromonas were higher in the presence of Shigella (matched OR: 6.2, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.9-20.2). Cases of Aeromonas were likely to present with dysentery, particularly in the 0-11 months (OR: 1.4, 95% CI 1.0-2.0) and 12-23 months (OR: 1.8, 95% CI: 1.3-2.5) age group. The odds of Aeromonas increased with increasing degree of stunting, being highest for severe stunting (OR: 10.1, 95% CI: 3.6-28.9). Aeromonas is a significant pathogen for MSD in Pakistan and Bangladesh. Presence of dysentery and co-occurrence with other pathogens, notably Shigella spp. are significant features of Aeromonas-associated diarrhea.
| S-EPMC5062620 | biostudies-literature
Project description:Diarrhea and fever are prevalent childhood illnesses with potentially severe consequences, especially when they co-occur. This study investigates the prevalence and determinants of diarrhea, fever, and their coexistence among children under-five in Bangladesh. Data from the 2017-2018 Bangladesh Demography and Health Survey (BDHS) were analyzed using multivariable stepwise logistic regression with backward selection. This study found that 5.0% for diarrhea, 34.0% for fever, and 3.0% for the coexistence of both illnesses. Common factors associated with childhood diarrhea and fever included the child's age (12-23 months), and the mother's education. Diarrhea was associated with households with improved water sources and children in the Barisal division, while fever was linked to underweight children and those from more affluent backgrounds. The coexistence of both was significantly linked to underweight children, higher birth orders, and children from the Rajshahi division. Notably, child illnesses were associated with parental education, higher socio-economic status, and access to improved drinking water sources. Diarrhea affects one in 20 children, fever affects one in three, and the coexistence of both conditions affects one in 35 children in Bangladesh. The findings need further research and policy reviews to develop effective interventions and improve child health in Bangladesh.
| S-EPMC10670412 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundThere 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.MethodsWe 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.ResultsFrom 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.ConclusionThis 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.
| S-EPMC7548439 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundThere were about 138 million new episodes of pneumonia and 0.9 million deaths globally in 2015. In Uganda, pneumonia was the fourth leading cause of death in children under five years of age in 2017-18. However, the economic burden of pneumonia, particularly for households and caregivers, is poorly documented.AimTo estimate the costs associated with an episode of pneumonia from the household, government, and societal perspectives.MethodsWe selected 48 healthcare facilities from the public and private sector across all care levels (primary, secondary, and tertiary), based on the number of pneumonia episodes reported for 2015-16. Adult caregivers of children with pneumonia diagnosis at discharge were selected. Using an ingredient-based approach, we collected cost and utilization data from administrative databases, medical records, and patient caregiver surveys. Household costs included direct medical and non-medical costs, as well as indirect costs estimated through a human capital approach. All costs are presented in 2018 U.S. dollars.ResultsThe treatment of pneumonia puts a substantial economic burden on households. The average societal cost per episode of pneumonia across all sectors and types of visits was $42; hospitalized episodes costed an average of $62 per episode, while episodes only requiring ambulatory care was $16 per episode. Public healthcare facilities covered $12 and $7 on average per hospitalized or ambulatory episode, respectively. Caregivers using the public system faced lower out-of-pocket payments, evaluated at $17, than those who used private for-profit ($21) and not-for-profit ($50) for hospitalized care. For ambulatory care, out-of-pocket payments amounted to $8, $18, and $9 for public, private for-profit, and not-for-profit healthcare facilities, respectively. About 39% of households experienced catastrophic health expenditures due to out-of-pocket payments related to the treatment of pneumonia.
| S-EPMC8135046 | biostudies-literature
Project description:ImportanceRotavirus infection is the global leading cause of diarrhea-associated morbidity and mortality among children younger than 5 years.ObjectivesTo examine the extent of rotavirus infection among children younger than 5 years by country and the number of deaths averted because of the rotavirus vaccine.Design, setting, and participantsThis report builds on findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016, a cross-sectional study that measured diarrheal diseases and their etiologic agents. Models were used to estimate burden in data-sparse locations.ExposureDiarrhea due to rotavirus infection.Main outcomes and measuresRotavirus-associated mortality and morbidity by country and year and averted deaths attributable to the rotavirus vaccine by country.ResultsRotavirus infection was responsible for an estimated 128 500 deaths (95% uncertainty interval [UI], 104 500-155 600) among children younger than 5 years throughout the world in 2016, with 104 733 deaths occurring in sub-Saharan Africa (95% UI, 83 406-128 842). Rotavirus infection was responsible for more than 258 million episodes of diarrhea among children younger than 5 years in 2016 (95% UI, 193 million to 341 million), an incidence of 0.42 cases per child-year (95% UI, 0.30-0.53). Vaccine use is estimated to have averted more than 28 000 deaths (95% UI, 14 600-46 700) among children younger than 5 years, and expanded use of the rotavirus vaccine, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, could have prevented approximately 20% of all deaths attributable to diarrhea among children younger than 5 years.Conclusions and relevanceRotavirus-associated mortality has decreased markedly over time in part because of the introduction of the rotavirus vaccine. This study suggests that prioritizing vaccine introduction and interventions to reduce diarrhea-associated morbidity and mortality is necessary in the continued global reduction of rotavirus infection.
| S-EPMC6233802 | biostudies-literature
Project description:BackgroundDengue, a vector-borne disease, is a major public health problem in many tropical and subtropical countries including Bangladesh. The objective of this study is to estimate the societal cost of illness of dengue infections among the urban population in Dhaka, Bangladesh.MethodsA cost-of-illness study was conducted using a prevalence-based approach from a societal perspective. Costs attributable to dengue were estimated from a bottom-up strategy using the guideline proposed by the World Health Organization for estimating the economic burden of infectious diseases.ResultsA total of 302 hospitalized confirmed dengue patients were enrolled in this study. The average cost to society for a person with a dengue episode was US$ 479.02. This amount was ranged between US$ 341.67 and US$ 567.12 for those patients who were treated at public and private hospitals, respectively. The households out-of-pocket cost contributed to a larger portion of the total costs of illness (66%) while the cost burden was significantly higher for the poorest households than the richest quintile.ConclusionsDengue disease imposes a substantial financial burden on households and society. Therefore, decision-makers should consider the treatment cost of dengue infections, particularly among the poor in the population while balancing the benefits of introducing potentially effective dengue preventive programs in Bangladesh.
| S-EPMC10723663 | biostudies-literature