Direct cost of treating childhood cancer in Lagos, Nigeria: A tale of financial inaccessibility to care

IF 0.2 Q4 MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL
A. Joseph, A. Akinsete, O. Awofeso, O. Balogun, K. Oyeyinka, A. Onitilo
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引用次数: 1

Abstract

Background: Unaffordable health-care costs are a critical factor in poor cancer care in low and middle-income countries. Net costs of treating childhood cancer in Nigeria are largely undocumented. This study sought to define the direct cost of pediatric cancer treatment in Lagos, Nigeria, to address this knowledge gap. Methods: This was a longitudinal study design targeting determination of cost of cancer-related care delivered to newly diagnosed childhood cancer patients at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, Idi-Araba, Lagos, Nigeria, from January 2017 to January 2020. Study participants included children with histologically confirmed diagnoses. All direct costs associated with care from the time of diagnosis until either remission or death were documented based on a parental survey at each patient encounter. Results: Among 46 enrolled participants (median age of 6 years), leukemia was the most common diagnosis. The median duration from diagnosis to last assessment was 11 months, and the average cost directly related from diagnosis to remission or death was NGN 5,064,700 (USD 13,876). The highest cost of care was associated with rhabdomyosarcoma, with an average cost of ₦6,798,635 ($18,678). These costs were juxtaposed to the average monthly family earning of NGN 115,228 (USD 316). Conclusion: This study revealed the direct cost of managing childhood cancer in Lagos, Nigeria, which proved unaffordable for most caregivers. Policies are needed to improve the affordability of health-care delivery for childhood cancer, including a focus on the adequacy of health insurance coverage and public health-related policies governing financial support targeting health-care delivery in the context of childhood cancer to improve outcomes.
尼日利亚拉各斯治疗儿童癌症的直接费用:经济上无法获得治疗的故事
背景:负担不起的保健费用是低收入和中等收入国家癌症护理不良的一个关键因素。在尼日利亚,治疗儿童癌症的净费用基本上没有记录。本研究旨在确定尼日利亚拉各斯儿童癌症治疗的直接成本,以解决这一知识差距。方法:这是一项纵向研究设计,旨在确定2017年1月至2020年1月在尼日利亚拉各斯Idi-Araba的拉各斯大学教学医院向新诊断的儿童癌症患者提供癌症相关治疗的成本。研究对象包括组织学确诊的儿童。从诊断到缓解或死亡期间与护理相关的所有直接费用均记录在每次患者就诊时父母调查的基础上。结果:在46名参与者中(中位年龄6岁),白血病是最常见的诊断。从诊断到最后一次评估的中位持续时间为11个月,从诊断到缓解或死亡直接相关的平均费用为5,064,700挪威元(13,876美元)。横纹肌肉瘤的护理费用最高,平均费用为6,798,635奈拉(18,678美元)。这些费用与家庭月平均收入115,228新台币(316美元)并列。结论:这项研究揭示了在尼日利亚拉各斯管理儿童癌症的直接成本,这对大多数护理人员来说是负担不起的。需要制定政策,提高儿童癌症保健服务的可负担性,包括注重健康保险覆盖范围的充分性和管理针对儿童癌症保健服务提供的财政支助的公共健康相关政策,以改善结果。
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来源期刊
Journal of Clinical Sciences
Journal of Clinical Sciences MEDICINE, GENERAL & INTERNAL-
自引率
0.00%
发文量
15
审稿时长
45 weeks
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