Who pays to treat malaria and how much? Analysis of the cost of illness, equity and economic burden of malaria in Uganda

• DOI: 10.1093/heapol/czae093
• Publication Date: 2024-11-09T16:11:23Z
• Authors: Katherine Snyman; Catherine Pitt; Angelo Aturia; Joyce Aber; Samuel Gonahasa; Jane Frances Namu...; Joaniter Nankabirwa; Emmanuel Arinaitwe; Catherine Maiteki...; Henry Katamba; Jimmy Opigo; Fred Matovu; Grant Dorsey; Moses R Kamya; Walter Ochieng; Sarah G Staedke
• Keywords: Equity

Abstract Case management of malaria in Africa has evolved markedly over the past 20 years and updated cost estimates are needed to guide control policies. We estimated illness households public health service assessed equity these costs Uganda. From December 2021 May 2022, we conducted a costing exercise eight government-run centres covering seven sub-regions, collecting from patient observations, records review time-and-motion study. November January gathered data on households’ randomly selected for 614 residents with suspected malaria. Societal were combined secondary sources estimate total economic burden used regression analyses concentration curves assess household across age, geographic location socio-economic status. The mean societal treating was $15.12 [95% confidence interval (CI): 12.83–17.14] per outpatient $27.21 (95% CI: 20.43–33.99) inpatient case. Households incurred 81% 72% costs. bore nearly equal illness, regardless A case lowest quintile 26% capita monthly consumption, while only highest 8%. treatment Uganda $577 million (range: $302 million–1.09 billion) 2021. remains high bear major Poorer richer incur same case; this distribution is equal, but not equitable. These results can be applied parameterize future evaluations interventions evaluate impact Ugandan society, informing resource allocations prevention.