CROSS SECTIONAL STUDY ON DIRECT AND INDIRECT COSTS INCURRED TOWARDS DOTS TREATMENT BY TUBERCULOSIS PATIENTS IN BENGALURU CITY
Dr. Prasad K. N.* and Puttaswamy M.
ABSTRACT
Background: There are innumerable costs involved in treatment of Tuberculosis. There are costs which are contributed by patients or his relative towards treatment other than availing free TB Medicines. Objective: To estimate the direct and indirect cost incurred towards DOTS treatment of Tuberculosis in Bangalore city. Methodology: A cross sectional, community based, descriptive and explorative study was conducted among all TB cases registered for treatment in randomly selected 4 DOT centers during September and October 2016 in Bangalore city. The pilot tested, pre designed and semi open ended questionnaire was used to collect information from TB patients at their door steps by direct interview. The data contained information about patients’ socio economic details, transport mode and costs, absent for work and loss of earnings, accompanying persons work, income and absent for work details. The data was analysed in SPSS version 20. Results: There were 64 male and 48 female TB patients on treatment during the study period. The mean age of TB patient was 35.8+16.1 years. There were more number of male patients in category I, pulmonary and Intensive phase period of treatment Majority used their own vehicle to reach DOT centers which is less than 2 km distance. The costs were not calculated for homemakers and travelling to DOT centers by walking. The total absent days for work among TB patients was 3178. The crude loss of pay per day per person for TB patients and accompanying person were Rs 633 and Rs 431 respectively. The adjusted loss of pay for TB patients was Rs 341 per day per person. Conclusion: The direct cost is resulting from TB patients visiting DOT centre as one way was approximately Rs 20 per day. The indirect costs were estimated to be Rs.46842 per day among working class of patients except for homemaker. This economic loss to the families of TB patients is enormous irrespective of free treatment and subsidized provisions.
Keywords: Tuberculosis, Direct cost, indirect cost, loss of pay, earnings, crude, adjusted.
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