title: The economic burden of preterm/very low birth weight care in Nigeria.
abstract: The care of very low birth weight (VLBW) neonates may impose an enormous burden on professional resources and finances of caregivers. This study seeks to evaluate the immediate cost of care of VLBW babies in a developing economy. Twenty-four hospital case records VLBW babies who survived till discharge over a 1 year period at the University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria were reviewed. Estimates of the out of pocket costs of managing these babies were calculated. The overall cost of hospital care ranged from US$211.1 to US$1573.9. The direct (median) and indirect (median) cost of care ranged from US$80 to US$1055 (US$247.3) and US$101.0 to US$1128.1 (US$257.2), respectively. These constituted 22.8% and 3966.3% (median 133.4%) of the combined family income. In conclusion, the cost of care of the VLBW deliveries in Nigeria is very high for the level of the economy and constitutes a major financial burden on the family.
authors.affiliation: Department of Paediatrics, College of Medicine, University College Hospital, Ibadan, Nigeria.
authors.forename: O O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Tongo
authors.forename: A E
authors.initials: AE
authors.lastname: Orimadegun
authors.forename: S O
authors.initials: SO
authors.lastname: Ajayi
authors.forename: O O
authors.initials: OO
authors.lastname: Akinyinka
mesh_terms: D017281:Cost of Illness; D005260:Female; D005865:Gestational Age; D017048:Health Care Costs; D005102:Health Expenditures; D006760:Hospitalization / Q000191:economics; D006785:Hospitals, University; D006801:Humans; D007230:Infant, Low Birth Weight; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D015931:Intensive Care, Neonatal; D008297:Male; D009549:Nigeria; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000191:economics*; D012959:Socioeconomic Factors