TY - JOUR
T1 - Can patients afford the cost of treatment for multidrug-resistant tuberculosis in Ethiopia?
AU - Berhanu, R. H.
AU - Schnippel, K.
AU - Kularatne, R.
AU - Firnhaber, C.
AU - Jacobson, K. R.
AU - Horsburgh, C. R.
AU - Lippincott, C. K.
PY - 2018/8/1
Y1 - 2018/8/1
N2 - SETTING: Ethiopia has a high prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) and is one of the countries with the highest burden of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB). OBJECTIVE: To understand the costs that patients incur in obtaining diagnosis and treatment for MDR-TB. DESIGN: In March 2013, interviews were conducted with 169 MDR-TB patients at three hospitals in Ethiopia to identify the cost to patients and the impact on employment and family income. RESULTS: The average MDR-TB patient incurred a total cost of US$1378, which represented 25 months of a mid-treatment household income of US$54. The impact on the patient's employment and on overall patient and family income was generally catastrophic: 74% of all respondents reported losing their jobs, 66% of patients lost household income, and household income was reduced by 38%. To help cover the costs, 38% of patients sold some type of property, while 7% leased out property and 41% took out loans, any of which could jeopardize their future financial situation even further. CONCLUSION: Despite services being officially free of charge, most patients incurred catastrophic costs and suffered significant income loss as a result of obtaining diagnosis and treatment for MDR-TB.
AB - SETTING: Ethiopia has a high prevalence of tuberculosis (TB) and is one of the countries with the highest burden of multidrug-resistant TB (MDR-TB). OBJECTIVE: To understand the costs that patients incur in obtaining diagnosis and treatment for MDR-TB. DESIGN: In March 2013, interviews were conducted with 169 MDR-TB patients at three hospitals in Ethiopia to identify the cost to patients and the impact on employment and family income. RESULTS: The average MDR-TB patient incurred a total cost of US$1378, which represented 25 months of a mid-treatment household income of US$54. The impact on the patient's employment and on overall patient and family income was generally catastrophic: 74% of all respondents reported losing their jobs, 66% of patients lost household income, and household income was reduced by 38%. To help cover the costs, 38% of patients sold some type of property, while 7% leased out property and 41% took out loans, any of which could jeopardize their future financial situation even further. CONCLUSION: Despite services being officially free of charge, most patients incurred catastrophic costs and suffered significant income loss as a result of obtaining diagnosis and treatment for MDR-TB.
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U2 - 10.5588/ijtld.17.0837
DO - 10.5588/ijtld.17.0837
M3 - Article
C2 - 29991400
AN - SCOPUS:85062940857
SN - 1027-3719
VL - 22
SP - 358
EP - 362
JO - The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease : the official journal of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
JF - The international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease : the official journal of the International Union against Tuberculosis and Lung Disease
IS - 8
ER -