The indirect cost due to pulmonary Tuberculosis in patients receiving treatment in Bauchi State-Nigeria

Nisser Umar, Richard Fordham, Ibrahim Abubakar, Max Bachmann

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

18 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective: 
To determine the time spent and income lost by patients and their households for seeking tuberculosis diagnosis and treatment in Bauchi State-Nigeria.

Method: 
A cross sectional study where 242 TB patients were sampled from 27 out of 67 facilities providing TB services in a north-eastern state of Nigeria. Sampling was stratified based on facility type, patients’ HIV status and gender.

Results: 
The income lost among the hospitalized group was estimated at $156/patient and about $114 in the non-hospitalized patients group. Age, gender, facility of diagnosis, level of education and occupation were significant (p-values <0.05) associated with total (both patients and their households) income lost. However, AFB sputum-smear result and HIV status had no significant effects on the income lost. Hospitalised patients spent an average time of 924.98 hours for diagnosis and treatment whereas the non-hospitalised spent an average of 141.29 hours. The estimated US dollar valued of these hours was US517.98 and US$79.13 for hospitalised and non-hospitalised patient groups respectively. Hospitalisation and the facility of diagnosis were statistically significant (p-value <0.05) predictors of the time patients and household spent on TB.

Conclusion: 
Tuberculosis poses causes tremendous burden in terms of time and productivity lost to both patients and their households in Bauchi State Nigeria.
Original languageEnglish
Article number6
JournalCost Effectiveness and Resource Allocation
Volume10
Issue number1
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 11 May 2012

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