Evidence map›Paper›PMID 35897023›Full record

ArticleBMC health services research2022

Evaluating the medical direct costs associated with prematurity during the initial hospitalization in Rwanda: a prevalence based cost of illness study.

Anaclet Ngabonzima, Domina Asingizwe, David Cechetto, Gisele Mukunde, Alain Nyalihama, Mathias Gakwerere, David Mark Epstein

Open access · goldAbstract read
In one paragraph

Article in BMC health services research, 2022. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
0.6field-weighted citation impact, top 32% 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

1 citing paper in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it, 5 citations in OpenAlex.

  1. Pooled it
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

7 authors at 5 institutions in 4 countries.

Anaclet NgabonzimaJSI Research & Training Institute, Inc, Washington, DC, USA. ngabanac2@gmail.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0001-8712-5348
Domina AsingizweCollege of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Rwanda, Kigali, Rwanda.
David CechettoSchulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
Gisele MukundeSchulich School of Medicine & Dentistry, University of Western Ontario, London, ON, Canada.
Alain NyalihamaPIVOT Works Inc, Ranomafana, Madagascar.
Mathias GakwerereUnited Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), Kigali, Rwanda.
David Mark EpsteinUniversity of Granada, Granada, Spain.
Western University · CAHealth and Environmental Sciences Institute · USUnited Nations Population Fund · USUniversidad de Granada · ESUniversity of Rwanda · RW

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPrematurity is still the leading cause of global neonatal mortality, Rwanda included, even though advanced medical technology has improved survival. Initial hospitalization of premature babies (PBs) is associated with high costs which have an impact on Rwanda's health budget. In Rwanda, these costs are not known, while knowing them would allow better planning, hence the purpose and motivation for this research.

methodsThis was a prospective cost of illness study using a prevalence approach conducted in 5 hospitals (University Teaching Hospital of Butare, Gisenyi, Masaka, Muhima, and Ruhengeri). It included PBs admitted from June to July 2021 followed up prospectively to determine the medical direct costs (MDC) by enumerating the cost of all inputs. Descriptive analyses and ordinary least squares regression were used to illustrate factors associated with and predictive of mean cost. The significance level was set at p < 0.05.

resultsA total of 123 PBs were included. Very preterm and moderate PBs were 36.6% and 23.6% respectively and the average birth weight (BW) was 1724 g (SD: 408.1 g). The overall mean MDC was $237.7 per PB (SD: $294.9) representing 28% of Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita per year. Costs per PB varied with weight category, prematurity degree, hospital level, and length of stay (LoS) among other variables. MDC was dominated by drugs and supplies (65%) with oxygen being an influential driver of MDC accounting for 38.4% of total MDC. Birth weight, oxygen therapy, and hospital level were significant MDC predictive factors.

conclusionThis study provides an in-depth understanding of MDC of initial hospitalization of PBs in Rwanda. It also indicates predictive factors, including birth weight, which can be managed through measures to prevent or delay preterm birth. IMPLICATION FOR PREMATURITY PREVENTION AND MANAGEMENT: The results suggest a need to revise the benefits and entitlements of insured people to include drugs and interventions not covered that are essential and where there are no alternatives. Having oxygen plants in hospitals may reduce oxygen-related costs. Furthermore, interventions to reduce prematurity should be evaluated using cost-effectiveness analysis since its overall burden is high.

Indexed as

Infant, Premature, DiseasesPremature BirthBirth WeightCost-Benefit AnalysisCost of IllnessFemaleHospitalizationHumansInfantInfant, NewbornOxygenPrevalenceProspective StudiesRwandaUgandaOxygenMedical direct costPrematurityPreterm birth

Identifiers

PMID35897023
PMCPMC9327227
OpenAlexW4288723198

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

Registered trials

None linked

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.