Cost of DOTS for tuberculous patients.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the cost of DOTS (directly observed therapy short course) incurred by the patients.


METHODS
A hospital based cross-sectional study was conducted at Nazimabad Chest Clinic and Ojha Center for Chest Diseases from January 2005 to July 2005. Two hundred and twenty tuberculous patients with acid-fast bacilli positive in their sputum were analyzed. Variables for cost were assessed with respect to money and time.


RESULTS
Most of the tuberculous patients (68%) registered during the data collection period were females. Thirty seven percent of the patients belonged to families with 8-10 family members living under one roof. The expense of direct cost for two months treatment was Rs. 3060-3600 (if patient was not buying the anti-tuberculous drugs). Most of the patients who were on DOTS spent more than 4 hours per day in obtaining the therapy. The disease was found to be common in poor families (75% of patients had total monthly income less than Rs. 2000).


CONCLUSIONS
Tuberculosis was common in poor and large-sized families. Time consumption on travel for DOTS was a deterrent for compliance. DOTS coverage should be modified to reduce time and financial cost for the patients.
Habib
Farida
F
Department of Community Health Sciences, Karachi Medical and Dental College.
Baig
Lubna
L
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002648:Child; D017281:Cost of Illness; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D023801:Directly Observed Therapy / Q000191:economics*; D005260:Female; D005102:Health Expenditures / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D006297:Health Services Accessibility; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010154:Pakistan; D010349:Patient Compliance; D011203:Poverty; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013997:Time Factors; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000191:economics