Institutional Cost Of Wound Care In The Treatment Of Buruli Ulcer Patients At Amasaman Hospital
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Date
2012-07
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University of Ghana
Abstract
Background: Buruli Ulcer (BU) is a debilitating skin disease caused by mycobacterium ulcerans. BU disease generally occurs in underprivileged communities. BU is the third most common mycobacterium disease in a hale and hearty individual after tuberculosis and leprosy. BU disease results in severe skin and soft tissue destruction leading to the formation of extensive ulcers. Wound care is thus an essential part of BU treatment. Ghana has over 30 BU treatment centres nationwide which provide BU treatment free of charge to the affected persons. The cost at which the wound care service is provided to the BU patients by the BU treatment centres is not known.
Objectives: The objective of the study was to estimate the financial and economic cost of wound care to the health facility in the treatment of Buruli ulcer patients. Specifically, it estimated the annual financial and annual economic cost of wound care to the health facility.
Methods: The research was a cross sectional cost of illness study from the perspective of a health provider. It involved retrospective analysis of the cost data by the health facility during the treatment of the wounds of Buruli ulcer patients. The study area was the Amasaman Government Hospital. Desk review, observation and face to face interviews were the techniques used in the data collection. Data for expenditure on capital and recurrent items were collected. The annual financial cost was estimated as a sum of the cost of the annual capital and recurrent expenditure. The annual economic cost was also estimated as a sum of the cost of annual capital and recurrent expenditure however, this included the cost of donated items and volunteer time. Results: The estimated annual financial cost of BU wound care to the Amasaman Hospital was GH₵ 196,326.42 (US$ 104,196.17). The estimated annual economic cost of BU wound care to the Amasaman Hospital was GH₵ 232,646.92 (US$ 123,472.52). Of the estimated annual financial cost of BU wound care, 99% was due to recurrent expenditure and 1% was due to capital expenditure. The estimated economic cost of BU wound care revealed that, cost of recurrent items accounted for 93% whiles the cost of capital items accounted for 7% of the estimated cost. The annual cost of wound care for one BU patient was estimated to be about GH₵ 4,652.94 (US$2,469.45).
Conclusion: The cost of BU wound care is enormous. BU wound care is a significant source of cost to the BU treatment centres.
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Thesis (MPH) - University of Ghana, 2012