11 research outputs found
Socio-economic impact of parental tuberculosis on children
The impact of parental pulmonary tuberculosis on children was studied from a larger study of socioeconomic
effects of the disease. The effect in children was studied in respect of 1) social, economic and demogaphic
characteristics of the parents (who were patients), 2) the child care functions of mothers who were patients and 3)
effect on children's education.
In all. 276 children of 167 tuberculous parents were studied The socio-eeonomic and demographic characteristics
were generally the same as are cornmonly seen. The child caring on the part of mothers fell from 64% to 35% for
rural females and from 74% to 33% for urban females; 11% of children (8% rural, 13% urban) dropped out of school,
significantly higher in famlies with 5 or more members and children living with both parents compared to single parent;
34% of study parents could not buy school books or adequate food because of loss of income and 20% of the children
were obliged to take up jobs in order to supplement income
Socio-economic impact of tuberculosis on patients and family in India
OBJECTIVE: To quantify the socio-economic impact of
tuberculosis on patients and their families from the costs
incurred by patients in rural and urban areas.
DESIGN: An interview schedule prepared from 17 focus
group discussions was used to collect socio-economic
demographic characteristics, employment, income particulars,
expenditure on illness and effects on children
from newly detected sputum-positive pulmonary tuberculosis
patients. The direct and indirect costs included
money spent on diagnosis, drugs, investigations, travel
and loss of wages. Total costs were projected for the
entire 6 months of treatment.
RESULTS: The study population consisted of 304 patients
(government health care 202, non governmental organisation
77, private practitioner 25), 120 of whom were
CHRONIC DISEASES such as tuberculosis cause
considerable morbidity and mortality. Despite the
fact that the causative organism was identified over a
century ago and near 100% effective regimens are
available, there has been little impact on the problem
of tuberculosis. One of the reasons for this is the poor
definition of the socio-economic impact of the disease.
It is only recently that studies have been undertaken
to identify the socio-economic burden of illnesses
such as tuberculosis. A clear understanding of
this burden will aid planners to give adequate priority
in the allocation of funds.1
Tuberculosis affects the most productive age group
and the resultant economic cost for society is high.2-4
Even though some studies have tried to measure the
economic effects of tuberculosis, little has been written
on the differential impact of the disease on men
and women. Women often face obstacles in gaining
access to diagnostic facilities, investigations and in
completing adequate treatment.5 In addition, the triple
burden of housework, childcare and employment
allows them very little time to access health care and
tuberculosis care for themselves.
The purpose of the present study is to document
females. Mean direct cost was Rs.2052/–, indirect
Rs.3934/–, and total cost was Rs.5986/– ($171 US).
The mean number of work days lost was 83 and mean
debts totalled Rs.2079/–. Both rural and urban female
patients faced rejection by their families (15%). Eleven
per cent of schoolchildren discontinued their studies; an
additional 8% took up employment to support their
family.
CONCLUSIONS: The total costs, and particularly indirect
costs due to TB, were relatively high. The average
period of loss of wages was 3 months. Care giving activities
of female patients decreased significantly, and a fifth
of schoolchildren discontinued their studies