SynthesisPLoS neglected tropical diseases2024
Financial hardship among patients suffering from neglected tropical diseases: A systematic review and meta-analysis of global literature.
Synthesis in PLoS neglected tropical diseases, 2024. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 7 papers.
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Who cites it
7 citing papers in PubMed.
- Accelerating vaccine research and development for skin neglected tropical diseases: A case for leishmaniasis, leprosy, and Buruli ulcer.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2026Review
- Estimating the distributional impact of improving access to snake antivenom in urban and rural Lao People's Democratic Republic: An extended cost-effectiveness analysis.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2026Article
- Zoonotic leishmaniasis in China: Current status and challenges to elimination.PLoS neglected tropical diseases · 2026Review
- Effects of Cash Transfer and Incentive Programs on Service Utilization and Treatment Outcomes Related to Neglected Tropical Diseases and Their Impact on Health and Nutrition in Low- and Middle-Income Countries: Protocol for a Systematic Review.JMIR research protocols · 2026Article
- Economic evaluations of community health worker programs focussed on neglected tropical diseases in low- and middle-income countries (2015-2024): A scoping literature review.PLOS global public health · 2025Article
- Global burden associated with rare infectious diseases of poverty in 2021: findings from the Global Burden of Disease Study 2021.Infectious diseases of poverty · 2024Article
- Global burden of zoonotic infectious diseases of poverty, 1990-2021.Infectious diseases of poverty · 2024Article
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Authors and funding
5 authors.
Funding
Abstract
introductionNeglected tropical diseases (NTDs) mainly affect underprivileged populations, potentially resulting in catastrophic health spending (CHS) and impoverishment from out-of-pocket (OOP) costs. This systematic review aimed to summarize the financial hardship caused by NTDs.
methodsWe searched PubMed, EMBASE, EconLit, OpenGrey, and EBSCO Open Dissertations, for articles reporting financial hardship caused by NTDs from database inception to January 1, 2023. We summarized the study findings and methodological characteristics. Meta-analyses were performed to pool the prevalence of CHS. Heterogeneity was evaluated using the I2 statistic.
resultsTen out of 1,768 studies were included, assessing CHS (n = 10) and impoverishment (n = 1) among 2,761 patients with six NTDs (Buruli ulcer, chikungunya, dengue, visceral leishmaniasis, leprosy, and lymphatic filariasis). CHS was defined differently across studies. Prevalence of CHS due to OOP costs was relatively low among patients with leprosy (0.0-11.0%), dengue (12.5%), and lymphatic filariasis (0.0-23.0%), and relatively high among patients with Buruli ulcers (45.6%). Prevalence of CHS varied widely among patients with chikungunya (11.9-99.3%) and visceral leishmaniasis (24.6-91.8%). Meta-analysis showed that the pooled prevalence of CHS due to OOP costs of visceral leishmaniasis was 73% (95% CI; 65-80%, n = 2, I2 = 0.00%). Costs of visceral leishmaniasis impoverished 20-26% of the 61 households investigated, depending on the costs captured. The reported costs did not capture the financial burden hidden by the abandonment of seeking healthcare.
conclusionNTDs lead to a substantial number of households facing financial hardship. However, financial hardship caused by NTDs was not comprehensively evaluated in the literature. To develop evidence-informed strategies to minimize the financial hardship caused by NTDs, studies should evaluate the factors contributing to financial hardship across household characteristics, disease stages, and treatment-seeking behaviors.
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