Costs of Treating Childhood Illnesses in Kenyan Hospitals
Author Information
Author(s): Philip Ayieko, Angela O Akumu, Ulla K Griffiths, Mike English
Primary Institution: Kenya Medical Research Institute/Wellcome Trust Research Programme
Hypothesis
What are the total costs associated with the treatment of pneumonia, malaria, and meningitis in children under five in Kenyan hospitals?
Conclusion
Treatment costs for inpatient malaria, pneumonia, and meningitis vary by facility type, with households contributing significantly to provider costs through user fees.
Supporting Evidence
- Households of sick children contribute significantly towards provider costs through payment of user fees.
- Treatment costs vary significantly between public and mission hospitals.
- User fees can cover a substantial proportion of treatment costs in mission hospitals.
Takeaway
This study looked at how much it costs to treat sick children in hospitals in Kenya, showing that families often have to pay a lot of money for their care.
Methodology
Data were collected from medical records and caretaker interviews in seven hospitals, focusing on resource use and costs.
Potential Biases
Potential reporting bias due to caretaker interviews and the selection of hospitals.
Limitations
The estimates for bed-day costs were based on limited studies, and pre-admission costs were underestimated as outpatient facilities were not included.
Participant Demographics
Children under five years of age with pneumonia, malaria, or meningitis; 56% were boys with a median age of 12 months.
Statistical Information
P-Value
p<0.0001
Confidence Interval
95% CI for differences in costs reported
Statistical Significance
p<0.05
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
Want to read the original?
Access the complete publication on the publisher's website