TY - JOUR
T1 - Economic burden and coping mechanisms by tuberculosis treatment supporters
T2 - a mixed method approach from Bono Region, Ghana
AU - Bio, Robert Bagngmen
AU - Akweongo, Patricia
AU - Koduah, Augustina
AU - Adomah-Afari, Augustine
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024. The Author(s).
PY - 2024/1/30
Y1 - 2024/1/30
N2 - BACKGROUND: The Directly Observed Therapy Short Course (DOTS) strategy recommended by World Health Organization for tuberculosis control requires multiple clinic visits which may place economic burden on treatment supporters especially those with low socio-economic status. The End tuberculosis goal targeted eliminating all tuberculosis associated costs. However, the economic burden and coping mechanisms by treatment supporters is unknown in Ghana. OBJECTIVES: The study determined the economic burden and coping mechanism by treatment supporters in Bono Region of Ghana. METHODS: Cross-sectional study using mixed method approach for data collection. For the quantitative data, a validated questionnaire was administered to 385 treatment supporters. Sixty in-depth interviews with treatment supporters to elicit information about their coping mechanisms using a semi-structured interview guide for the qualitative data. Descriptive statistics, costs estimation, thematic analysis and bivariate techniques were used for the data analysis. RESULTS: Averagely, each treatment supporter spent GHS 112.4 (US$21.1) on treatment support activities per month which is about 19% of their monthly income. Borrowing of money, sale of assets, used up saving were the major coping mechanisms used by treatment supporters. Highest level of education, household size, marital status and income level significantly influence both the direct and indirect costs associated with tuberculosis treatment support. The significant levels were set at 95% confidence interval and p < 0.05. CONCLUSION: We concludes that the estimated cost and coping mechanisms associated with assisting tuberculosis patients with treatment is significant to the tuberculosis treatment supporters. If not mitigated these costs have the tendency to worsen the socio-economic status and future welfare of tuberculosis treatment supporters.
AB - BACKGROUND: The Directly Observed Therapy Short Course (DOTS) strategy recommended by World Health Organization for tuberculosis control requires multiple clinic visits which may place economic burden on treatment supporters especially those with low socio-economic status. The End tuberculosis goal targeted eliminating all tuberculosis associated costs. However, the economic burden and coping mechanisms by treatment supporters is unknown in Ghana. OBJECTIVES: The study determined the economic burden and coping mechanism by treatment supporters in Bono Region of Ghana. METHODS: Cross-sectional study using mixed method approach for data collection. For the quantitative data, a validated questionnaire was administered to 385 treatment supporters. Sixty in-depth interviews with treatment supporters to elicit information about their coping mechanisms using a semi-structured interview guide for the qualitative data. Descriptive statistics, costs estimation, thematic analysis and bivariate techniques were used for the data analysis. RESULTS: Averagely, each treatment supporter spent GHS 112.4 (US$21.1) on treatment support activities per month which is about 19% of their monthly income. Borrowing of money, sale of assets, used up saving were the major coping mechanisms used by treatment supporters. Highest level of education, household size, marital status and income level significantly influence both the direct and indirect costs associated with tuberculosis treatment support. The significant levels were set at 95% confidence interval and p < 0.05. CONCLUSION: We concludes that the estimated cost and coping mechanisms associated with assisting tuberculosis patients with treatment is significant to the tuberculosis treatment supporters. If not mitigated these costs have the tendency to worsen the socio-economic status and future welfare of tuberculosis treatment supporters.
KW - Bono Region
KW - Coping mechanism
KW - Economic burden
KW - Ghana
KW - Treatment supporters
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85183748330&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1186/s12913-024-10611-1
DO - 10.1186/s12913-024-10611-1
M3 - Article
C2 - 38291448
AN - SCOPUS:85183748330
SN - 1472-6963
VL - 24
SP - 148
JO - BMC Health Services Research
JF - BMC Health Services Research
IS - 1
ER -