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Rajeswari R, Balasubramanian R, Muniyandi M, Geetharamani
S, Thresa X & Venkatesan P |
TI |
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Socio-economic impact of tuberculosis on patients and
family in India |
SO |
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INT J TB & LUNG DIS 1999, 3, 869-877 |
DT |
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Per |
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This study was undertaken to quantify the socio-economic
impact of TB on patients and their families from the costs incurred
by patients in rural and urban areas.
An interview schedule prepared from 17 focus group
discussions was used to collect socio-economic demographic characteristics,
employment, income particulars, expenditure on illness and effects
on children from newly detected sputum-positive pulmonary TB patients.
The direct and indirect costs included money spent on diagnosis,
drugs, investigations, travel and loss of wages. Total costs were
projected for the entire 6 months of treatment.
The results showed that the study population consisted
of 304 patients (government health care 202, non governmental organization
77, private practitioner 25), 120 of whom were females. Mean direct
cost was Rs.2052/-, indirect Rs.3934/-, and total cost was Rs.5986/-
($171 US). The mean number of work days lost was 83 and mean debts
totaled Rs.2079/-. Both rural and urban female patients faced rejection
by their families (15%). Eleven per cent of schoolchildren discontinued
their studies; an additional 8% took up employment to support their
family.
It was concluded that the total costs and particularly
indirect costs due to TB, were relatively high. The average period
of loss of wages was 3 months. Care giving activities of female
patients decreased significantly, and a fifth of schoolchildren
discontinued their studies.
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KEY WORDS: SOCIO-ECONOMICS, SOCIAL COST; WOMEN; INDIA |