The Economic Burden of Preterm/Very Low Birth Weight Care in Nigeria

The care of very low birth weight (VLBW) neonates may impose an enormous burden on professional resources and finances of caregivers. This study seeks to evaluate the immediate cost of care of VLBW babies in a developing economy. Twenty-four hospital case records VLBW babies who survived till discha...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of tropical pediatrics (1980) 2009-08, Vol.55 (4), p.262-264
Main Authors: Tongo, O. O., Orimadegun, A. E., Ajayi, S. O., Akinyinka, O. O.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Biological and medical sciences
Cost of Illness
Diseases of mother, fetus and pregnancy
Female
General aspects
Gestational Age
Gynecology. Andrology. Obstetrics
Health Care Costs
Health Expenditures
Hospitalization - economics
Hospitals, University
Humans
Infant, Low Birth Weight
Infant, Newborn
Infant, Premature
Intensive Care, Neonatal
Male
Medical sciences
Nigeria
Pregnancy. Fetus. Placenta
Premature Birth - economics
Socioeconomic Factors
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Summary:The care of very low birth weight (VLBW) neonates may impose an enormous burden on professional resources and finances of caregivers. This study seeks to evaluate the immediate cost of care of VLBW babies in a developing economy. Twenty-four hospital case records VLBW babies who survived till discharge over a 1 year period at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria were reviewed. Estimates of the out of pocket costs of managing these babies were calculated. The overall cost of hospital care ranged from US$211.1 to US$1573.9. The direct (median) and indirect (median) cost of care ranged from US$80 to US$1055 (US$247.3) and US$101.0 to US$1128.1 (US$257.2), respectively. These constituted 22.8% and 3966.3% (median 133.4%) of the combined family income. In conclusion, the cost of care of the VLBW deliveries in Nigeria is very high for the level of the economy and constitutes a major financial burden on the family.
ISSN:0142-6338
1465-3664
DOI:10.1093/tropej/fmn107