title: A cost analysis of pediatric cataract surgery at two child eye health tertiary facilities in Africa.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To determine the direct cost of pediatric cataract surgery at two child eye health tertiary facilities (CEHTFs) in Africa.
  
  
  METHODS
  The direct cost of pediatric cataract surgery was determined by reviewing data collected from two CEHTFs in Zambia and Malawi. Inventory, cost, and usage data of all durable medical equipment, consumable equipment, personnel, and medications were collected and the direct cost per child calculated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  For cataract surgery and related treatment during 2011, the total cost per child was calculated to be $202 for Malawi and $277 for Zambia using figures derived from estimating labor cost allocation proportional to employee time devoted to pediatric cataract management. The one-time equipment cost totaled $178,121 for Malawi and $179,832 for Zambia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These cost estimates may serve as a basis for economic decisions aimed at improving access to care, management, and follow-up for children with cataract and provide useful insights for programs dedicated to promoting organizational and financial sustainability for CEHTFs in Africa.
authors.affiliation: Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia.
authors.forename: Centrael T
authors.initials: CT
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta. Electronic address: plenha2@emory.edu.
authors.forename: Phoebe D
authors.initials: PD
authors.lastname: Lenhart
authors.affiliation: Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta.
authors.forename: Dan
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Rollins School of Public Health, Emory University, Atlanta.
authors.forename: Zhou
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: Emory University, Atlanta.
authors.forename: Trusha
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Daya
authors.affiliation: Emory University, Atlanta.
authors.forename: Young-Min
authors.initials: YM
authors.lastname: Kim
authors.affiliation: Eye Department, Kitwe Central Hospital, Kitwe, Zambia.
authors.forename: Asiwome
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seneadza
authors.affiliation: Eye Department, Kitwe Central Hospital, Kitwe, Zambia.
authors.forename: Chileshe
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mboni
authors.affiliation: Lions Sight First Eye Hospital, Queen Elizabeth Central Hospital, Blantyre, Malawi.
authors.forename: Gerald
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Msukwa
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta; Kilimanjaro Centre for Community Ophthalmology International, Division of Ophthalmology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Lewallen
authors.affiliation: Department of Ophthalmology, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta; Kilimanjaro Centre for Community Ophthalmology International, Division of Ophthalmology, University of Cape Town, Cape Town, South Africa.
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Courtright
mesh_terms: D002386:Cataract / Q000151:congenital / Q000191:economics*; D002387:Cataract Extraction / Q000191:economics*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004470:Economics, Medical; D005245:Fee Schedules; D017048:Health Care Costs; D006801:Humans; D008295:Malawi; D008297:Male; D009885:Ophthalmology / Q000191:economics*; D062606:Tertiary Care Centers / Q000191:economics*; D015024:Zambia