title: Cost estimate of hospital stays for premature newborns of adolescent mothers in a Brazilian public hospital.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To estimate the direct costs of hospital stay for premature newborns of adolescent mothers, in a public hospital.
  
  
  METHODS
  A cost estimate study conducted between 2009 and 2011, in which direct hospital costs were estimated for premature newborns of adolescent mothers, with 22 to 36 6/7 gestational weeks, and treated at the neonatal unit of the hospital.
  
  
  RESULTS
  In 2006, there were 5,180 deliveries at this hospital, and 17.8% (922) were newborns of adolescent mothers, of which 19.63% (181) were admitted to the neonatal unit. Out of the 181 neonates, 58% (105) were premature and 80% (84) of them were included in this study. These 84 neonates had a total of 1,633 days in-patient hospital care at a total cost of US$195,609.00. Approximately 72% of this total cost (US$141,323.00) accounted for hospital services. The mean daily costs ranged from US$97.00 to US$157.00.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated that the average cost of premature newborns from adolescent mothers was US$2,328.00 and varied according to birth weight. For those weighing <1,000g at birth, the mean direct cost was US$8,930.00 per stay as opposed to a cost of US$642.00 for those with birth weight >2,000g. The overall estimated direct cost for the 84 neonates in the study totaled US$195,609.00.
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Lutufyo Witson
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Mwamakamba
authors.affiliation: Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, SP, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paola
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Zucchi
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001724:Birth Weight; D001938:Brazil; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D017048:Health Care Costs; D017721:Hospital Costs; D006779:Hospitals, Public; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D007234:Infant, Premature; D007902:Length of Stay / Q000191:economics*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011253:Pregnancy in Adolescence; D047928:Premature Birth / Q000191:economics*; D055815:Young Adult