Household Cost of Road Traffic Accident-Related Injuries: A Case Study of St. Joseph Hospital, Koforidua

Abstract

Background: Road traffic accidents were ranked as the number eight cause of mortality and also a leading cause of death for children and adults between ages 5 and 29 years, ranking it above tuberculosis and malaria in 2016. It is projected that Road Traffic Accident (RTA) will be the fifth global cause of mortality by 2030. There are more than 1.3 million Road Traffic Injury(RTI)-associated deaths and about 50 million RTI cases each year with Africa bearing a brunt of this. Road traffic accident presents a physical and economic burden to individuals, households, and governments. Objective: To assess the economic cost of Road Traffic Accidents in St Joseph Hospital, Koforidua. Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted at the Emergency Unit of the St. Joseph Hospital with a sample size of 291. Summary statistics such as summation, mean and standard deviation were used to estimate the direct, indirect, and intangible costs to the patient. Results: The study found that the total direct and indirect cost of Road Traffic Accidents was approximately GHS1,973,801.28 (US$164,483.44) and GHS520,309.46 (US$43,359.12) respectively which represents 79.2% and 20.8% of the total cost. The total economic cost was GHS2,494,110.74 (US$207,842.56). Intangible cost was also found to be high, with many patients rating their RTA burden to be between moderate and severe. Conclusion: The study concludes that there were high direct, indirect, and intangible costs associated with road traffic injuries managed in St. Joseph Hospital, Koforidua, Ghana. The study recommends that the Ghana Health Service and stakeholders concerned should encourage enrollment in NHIS as this could go a long way to substantially reduce the catastrophic health expenditure incurred by RTA patients and families. Also, the NHIA should provide coverage for the cost and treatment for victims of road traffic accidents especially those with open fractures which are orthopedic emergencies that may need stabilization with an external fixator. In addition to this, the Ministry of Roads and Transport as well as Ghana Highways Authority must make conscious efforts in reducing or curbing Road Traffic Accidents in cities and on the highways by enforcing speed limits, building pedestrian and cyclist lanes, putting up speed ramps, adequate training and education for drivers and motorists by the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Authority (DVLA), deployment of more police personnels on our highways, proper roadworthy examination on vehicles, to ban the use of tricycles on our major roads, repairing of potholes, prosecuting of ‘drink and drive’ drivers, and ensuring the use of seatbelts in all passenger and private vehicles. Moreso, there is the need to involve the services of Clinical psychologists and counsellors in the treatment of Road Traffic Accident patients by supporting them emotionally and spiritually, this will go a long way to enhance quick recovery and return of normal functions.