Economic burden of childhood asthma in children attending a follow-up clinic in a resource-poor setting of Southeast Nigeria

Abstract

Background: Beyond its chronicity, childhood asthma carries an economic burden for households. In this study we evaluated the cost of care of childhood asthma in a Nigerian household.

Methods: A cross-sectional hospital-based study. Relevant information was obtained through an interviewer-administered questionnaire. The cost of asthma treatment was estimated using direct medical costs and loss in productivity. Data analysis was done with SPSS version 22. A significant value of p < 0.05 was used.

Results: Sixty-six participants were enrolled, mean ± SD age (11.6 ± ) the average direct cost was USD10.35. The cost of drug was USD5.8 and accounted for 56% of the direct cost. The loss in productivity was USD16.73. The mean cost per clinic visit was USD27.08, which was catastrophic in 12 (18.2%) households. The calculated annual cost of asthma treatment was USD162.49, with a cumulative national cost of USD 0.16 billion, which makes up 0.002% of the national GDP.

Conclusion: The cost burden of asthma treatment may be low on the households but carries a huge national cost impact. We recommend the inclusion of asthma care in the Nigerian social health insurance as this may help reduce the financial burden due to asthma.

Keywords: Childhood asthma; Economic cost; Nigeria.