Premium
The financial impact of puerperal infections on patients, carers and public hospitals in two regions in Ghana
Author(s) -
Fenny Ama Pokuaa,
Otieku Evans,
Akufo Christiana,
ObengNkrumah Noah,
Asante Felix Ankomah,
Enemark Ulrika
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
international journal of gynecology and obstetrics
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.895
H-Index - 97
eISSN - 1879-3479
pISSN - 0020-7292
DOI - 10.1002/ijgo.13509
Subject(s) - productivity , medicine , indirect costs , total cost , public health , direct cost , environmental health , demography , business , economics , economic growth , nursing , accounting , sociology
Background Puerperal infection (PI) is a known maternal health problem globally. However, there is limited information on its economic impact on patients, carers, and public hospitals in lower‐middle‐income countries, such as Ghana. Methods A prospective case‐control study was undertaken in two regional hospitals to analyze the cost of PI. A total of 667 and 559 participants were enrolled in the study at the Greater Accra Regional Hospital (GARH) and the Eastern Regional Hospital (ERH), respectively. Total, average and marginal costs were analyzed between patients with and without PI. Results Within the study period, the prevalence of PI was 9.1% at ERH and 14.9% at GARH. Overall, patients with PI reported excess length of hospital stay (LOS), corresponding to 46.8% and 33.5% increases in average direct cost at ERH and GARH, respectively, compared with their control groups. In almost all cases, the attributable indirect cost was consistent with productivity loss. Conclusion In both hospitals, patients with PI reported excess LOS and increased direct and indirect costs. The total cost of PI to society, which is the sum of the direct cost, productivity loss, and hospital cost, was higher in Greater Accra than in the Eastern region.