Out-of-Pocket Expenditures & Financial Risks Associated with Treatment of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases in Ethiopia
2023
This study investigates out-of-pocket (OOP) expenditures and associated catastrophic health expenditures (CHEs) for vaccine-preventable diseases (VPDs) in Ethiopia. Through a cross-sectional costing analysis, data on OOP direct medical and nonmedical expenditures were collected from 995 households in 54 health facilities nationwide. The study focuses on VPDs in children under 5 years for pneumonia, diarrhea, measles, and pertussis, and in children under 15 years for meningitis. Mean OOP expenditures per disease episode ranged from $5·6 to $101·7, with direct medical expenditures, notably drug and supply expenses, identified as major cost drivers. Approximately 13·3% of households seeking inpatient care experienced CHE. Significant predictors of CHE included the type of facility visited, receiving inpatient care, and wealth status. The findings underscore the substantial economic burden of VPDs in Ethiopia, particularly among low-income households requiring inpatient care. The study emphasizes the critical need for equitable access to vaccines, highlighting the government's role in sustaining vaccine financing to address both health and economic challenges associated with VPDs.
Source:
Memirie ST, Tolla MT, Rumpler E, Sato R, Bolongaita S, Tefera YL, Tesfaye L, Tadesse MZ, Getnet F, Mengistu T, Verguet S. Out-of-Pocket Expenditures and Financial Risks Associated with Treatment of Vaccine-Preventable Diseases in Ethiopia. PLOS Medicine 2023; 20 (3): e1004198. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmed.1004198