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User cost of Caesarean section: case study of Bunia, Democratic Republic of Congo
Author(s) -
Deboutte Danielle,
O'Dempsey Tim,
Mann Gillian,
Faragher Brian
Publication year - 2013
Publication title -
the international journal of health planning and management
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.672
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1099-1751
pISSN - 0749-6753
DOI - 10.1002/hpm.2208
Subject(s) - caesarean section , vaginal delivery , medicine , total cost , obstetrics , business , activity based costing , health care , medical emergency , pregnancy , economic growth , economics , accounting , genetics , biology
Summary The study estimated the user cost of Caesarean section (CS), a major component of emergency obstetric care (EmOC), in a post conflict situation in Bunia, DR Congo, 2008. A case control study used a structured questionnaire to compare women who had a CS (cases) with women who had a vaginal delivery (controls). Service information was recorded in 20 facilities providing obstetric care. Maternal and perinatal deaths, including those outside health facilities, were recorded and verified. The user cost of CS was estimated at four hospitals, one of them managed by an international non‐governmental organization offering EmOC free of charge, compared to the user cost of women who had a vaginal delivery. Among paying users, the mean healthcare cost was $US68.0 for CS and $US12.1 for vaginal delivery; mean transport cost to and from the hospital was $US11.7 for cases and $US3.2 for controls. The mean monthly family income was $US75.5. The user cost of CS placed an important financial burden on patients and their families. During transition from humanitarian to developmental assistance, donors and the State should shore up the EmOC budget to avoid an increase in maternal and perinatal mortality. Copyright © 2013 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.