Evidence map›Paper›PMID 32991607›Full record

ArticlePloS one2020

Economic burden of the persistent morbidity of nodding syndrome on caregivers in affected households in Northern Uganda.

Lugala Samson Yoane Latio, Nguyen Hai Nam, Jaffer Shah, Chris Smith, Kikuko Sakai, Kato Stonewall Shaban, Richard Idro, Nishi Makoto, Nguyen Tien Huy, Shinjiro Hamano and 1 more

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in PloS one, 2020. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
5citing papers in PubMed
1.5field-weighted citation impact, top 17% of its field
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

5 citing papers in PubMed, 11 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Nodding Syndrome: Shifting the Focus from Cause to Treatment.The American journal of tropical medicine and hygiene · 2026
    Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

11 authors at 7 institutions in 4 countries.

Lugala Samson Yoane LatioSchool of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.
Nguyen Hai NamOnline Research Club (http://www.onlineresearchclub.org), Nagasaki, Japan.ORCID 0000-0001-5184-6936
Jaffer ShahOnline Research Club (http://www.onlineresearchclub.org), Nagasaki, Japan.
Chris SmithSchool of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.
Kikuko SakaiLiberal Arts and Science, Kanazawa Seiryo University, Kanazawa, Japan.
Kato Stonewall ShabanDepartment of Environment and Natural Resources, Faculty of Agriculture and Environment Gulu University, Gulu, Uganda.
Richard IdroDepartment of Pediatrics and Child Health, College of Health Sciences, Makerere University, Kampala, Uganda.
Nishi MakotoGraduate School of Asian and African Area Studies, Kyoto University, Kyoto, Japan.
Nguyen Tien HuyDepartment of Clinical Product Development, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), School of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.ORCID 0000-0002-9543-9440
Shinjiro HamanoDepartment of Parasitology, Institute of Tropical Medicine (NEKKEN), Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.
Kazuhiko MojiSchool of Tropical Medicine and Global Health, Nagasaki University, Nagasaki, Japan.
Nagasaki University · JPKyoto University · JPDrexel University · USGulu University · UGKanazawa Seiryo University · JPLondon School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine · GBMakerere University · UG

Funding

Medical Research Council MR/M025489/1
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundNodding syndrome (NS), is an unexplained form of epilepsy which leads to stunted growth, cognitive decline, and a characteristic nodding of the head. Current data about its impact on households in Uganda is scarce. Therefore, this study aims to assess the economic burden of the persistent morbidity of NS on caregivers in affected households in Northern Uganda.

methodsA cross-sectional cost-of-care study was conducted from January 2019 to February 2019 in Lakwela village-Northern Uganda in 14 households, who are members of a community-based organization (CBO) established in the village with the support of a Japanese research team, (Uganda-Japan Nodding Syndrome Network). Data was collected through questionnaires. Both direct (medical and non-medical) and indirect (informal care) costs of caregiving were assessed. Indirect costs were valued using the human-capital method as loss of production.

resultsDirect costs constituted a higher proportion of costs for NS households, accounting for on average 7.7% of household expenditure. The annual weighted mean cost per NS patient was estimated at 27.6 USD (26.4 USD direct costs, 96.2% and 1.2 USD indirect cost, 3.8%). Average time spent on informal caregiving was 4.4 ±1.7 (standard deviation) hours/week with an estimated annual informal caregiving cost of 24.85 USD and gross domestic product (GDP) loss of 412.40 USD.

conclusionDirect costs due to NS are still high among households in this study. More studies are needed to investigate measures that could help bring down these costs and equally reduce the day-to-day disruption of caregiver's activities; consequently, improving the lives of these affected households and communities.

Indexed as

CaregiversCost of IllnessFamily CharacteristicsActivities of Daily LivingEpilepsyHealth Care CostsHumansNodding SyndromeUganda

Identifiers

PMID32991607
PMCPMC7523991
OpenAlexW3090293698

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.