Suvirya Swastika, Tripathi Srishti, Shukla Mukesh, Verma Parul, Kar Sujita Kumar, Sachan Sonal
Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy, King George's Medical University, Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh, India.
Department of Dermatology, Venereology and Leprosy, Netaji Subhash Chandra Bose Medical College, Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh, India.
Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS. 2024 Jan-Jun;45(1):25-30. doi: 10.4103/ijstd.ijstd_56_23. Epub 2024 Jun 6.
Economic burden imposed by sexually transmitted infections (STIs) is substantial in low-middle-income countries like India, in spite of the fact that national programs for controlling STIs are operational.
The aim of this study was to estimate the out-of-pocket expenses and catastrophic health expenditure (CHE) incurred by patients of STIs and analyze expenditure pattern in relation to various clinical and sociodemographic characteristics.
This was a hospital-based cross-sectional study among patients attending Suraksha Clinic.
The study was conducted among patients aged ≥18 years. Data were collected regarding various direct and indirect expenses incurred, after adjusting any reimbursement or waive off. Total costs exceeding 10% of annual household income were considered catastrophic. Stepwise regression analysis was used to analyze predictors, and < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.
Out of 157 patients, most were suffering from herpetic ulcers (27.4%). The median and interquartile range (IQR) for total OOPE of STI management was ₹1950 (IQR 1035-5725). Direct expenditure constituted major expenses with a median of ₹1850 (IQR 787.50-5385.0). The cost of STI management was catastrophic in 15.2% of cases. Lower socioeconomic status, longer traveling distance, overnight stay as a part of seeking treatment at Suraksha Clinic, previous history of other than allopathic treatment, and quack consultation were found to be independent predictors of CHE.
Despite free diagnostic and treatment services to STI patients under the National AIDS Control Programme, many incurred considerable costs and catastrophic expenditure toward STI care. Better outreach of health services is required to maximize STI control and lower financial morbidity.
尽管印度等中低收入国家已经实施了国家性传播感染控制项目，但性传播感染（STIs）所带来的经济负担仍然十分巨大。
本研究旨在估算性传播感染患者的自付费用和灾难性卫生支出（CHE），并分析与各种临床和社会人口学特征相关的支出模式。
这是一项基于医院的横断面研究，研究对象为在苏拉克沙诊所就诊的患者。
研究在年龄≥18岁的患者中进行。收集了经调整任何报销或减免后的各种直接和间接费用数据。总费用超过家庭年收入10%的被视为灾难性支出。采用逐步回归分析来分析预测因素，P<0.05被认为具有统计学意义。
在157名患者中，大多数患有疱疹性溃疡（27.4%）。性传播感染管理的总自付费用中位数和四分位间距（IQR）为1950卢比（IQR 1035 - 5725）。直接支出构成主要费用，中位数为1850卢比（IQR 787.50 - 5385.0）。15.2%的病例中性传播感染管理费用具有灾难性。社会经济地位较低、出行距离较长、在苏拉克沙诊所就诊时需过夜、接受过非正规治疗以外的既往治疗以及咨询过江湖郎中被发现是灾难性卫生支出的独立预测因素。
尽管根据国家艾滋病控制项目，性传播感染患者可享受免费诊断和治疗服务，但许多患者仍在性传播感染护理方面承担了相当大的费用和灾难性支出。需要更好地推广卫生服务，以最大限度地控制性传播感染并降低经济负担。
