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Financial cost of severe measles in sub-Sahalian hospitals; a study of 714 cases in Bobo-Dioulasso (Burkina Faso) in 1986-1987. Volume 1, issue 4, Octobre-Novembre 1991

Authors
service de pédiatrie, hôpital Souro Sanou, BP 676, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, CESIS/OCCGE, Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso, GEEP, Antenne de Bobo-Dioulasso, Burkina Faso.
  • Page(s) : 311-6
  • Published in: 1991

We conducted a retrospective study concerning 714 children admitted to Bobo-Dioulasso Hospital (Burkina Faso) with severe measles between 1986 and 1987. The mortality rate was 29.1%. The financial cost of such cases was studied on the basis of 313 files chosen at random. The overall cost of the disease was 32.960 FCFA per patient. Drugs accounted for 25% of the cost, with antibiotics taking first place (47%), followed by anti-pyretic drugs (19%) and rehydratation (17%). These figures reflect the severity of the clinical presentation, which is due to the following factors: -a background of malnutrition; -a high rate of superadded infections; -inadequate patient management by peripheral health-care structures; -poor equipment ; -persistence of traditional practices (e.g. enemas, diets) which can be detrimental. The mean cost in the absence of complications was 24,630 FCFA, and 34,500 FCFA when complications occurred. These costs are met by the community (63%) and by the families (37%). The cost of treating a complicated case is equivalent to that of vaccinating six children against four diseases (tetanus, polio, whooping cough and measles). Pending an effective anti-measles vaccination programme, simple health education measures and efficient drug use should reduce the mortality rate and the costs related to complications.