Economic Burden of Diabetes Mellitus to Diabetic Patients and their Families attending Health Facilities in Addis Ababa City, Ethiopia

Abstract

Background: Diabetes imposes large economic burdens on individuals, their families and on national health care system and national economy. The aim of this study was to assess the economic burden of diabetic mellitus to patients and their families.

Method: Institution based cross-sectional study design was employed in selected health facilities in Addis Ababa city from April 1 to May 4, 2015. Structured questionnaires were used to collect the data. Data were entered and analyzed using SPSS version 20. Descriptive and analytical statistics were applied. A correlation was done in order to determine the relationship between dependent and independent variables with Spearman's rho correlation coefficient, which identifies the main variable of the study which is cost.

Result: This study included 404 diabetic patients. The median direct cost of caring for a diabetic patient was USD 21.8 per month. The median of the total indirect cost was 6 days (mean 17.29) for the patient and their caregiver in the last 6 months. The direct cost was higher in those who had higher education level, higher family income, frequently had laboratory tests, the source of medication costs in correlation degree of (0.1 to 0.6 or -0.1 to -0.6) at p-value < 0.05.

Conclusion: Medical costs were the major contributor to the direct cost of diabetes patients and caregivers. Moreover, it needs efforts to increase medical services at low cost to all diabetic patients.

Keywords: Diabetes Mellitus, Economic Burdon, Diabetic Patients, Families