Assessing the Financial Burden of Dengue Across Socioeconomic Groups in Hyderabad and Karachi.
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.63516/Keywords:
Cost of Illness, Dengue, Healthcare Costs, Social Class, Developing countriesAbstract
Abstract
Background:
Dengue is a communicable disease rapidly growing in low- and middle-income countries and creating huge epidemiological and economic burden by affecting millions of people globally. The present study is aimed to determine the economic burden of dengue among the population living in two major cities of Pakistan that are Karachi and Hyderabad and to identify the burden of disease in relation to demography and socio-economic status of the population.
Methods:
This cross-sectional cost of illness study was conducted at two major cities of Sindh i.e. Karachi and Hyderabad on a total of 634 participants. Participants with age ≥18 years and a laboratory confirmed dengue infection. Based on the framework of COI, the costs were categorized into three categories: direct medical, direct non-medical, and indirect costs.
Results
The generalized linear model showed cost burden was higher (1.12 times) on participants residing in Karachi in comparison to total dengue-related costs compared with those treated in Hyderabad. The cost burden also increases among different SES groups in relative to the lower socioeconomic group reporting 1.52 times higher among middle, 1.84 times higher among upper-middle, and 2.12 times higher among upper socioeconomic groups.
Conclusion
Deducing the findings of this study and evidences available on data search, it is considerate that cases of dengue has been rising; passing every year. While higher income group can afford the cost, the population belongs from LES suffers from increase out of pocket expenditure that greatly effects their budget by increasing a burden on house hold expense.
References
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