ArticleBMJ open2025
Economic burden of musculoskeletal disorders in Tanzania: results from a community-based survey.
Article in BMJ open, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.
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1 citing paper in PubMed.
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Authors and funding
15 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
objectivesTo identify, measure and value the economic burden of musculoskeletal (MSK) disorders in the Kilimanjaro region, Tanzania.
designCommunity-based cross-sectional survey (undertaken between January and September 2021).
settingHai district, Kilimanjaro, Tanzania.
participantsHouseholds resident in the Hai district.
methodsA two-stage cluster sampling was used to select a representative sample of all Hai district residents. Clinical screening tools were used to identify and measure MSK disorders through a tiered approach. An economic questionnaire measuring healthcare costs, out-of-pocket costs, absenteeism, presenteeism and work productivity loss was administered to those with likely MSK disorders and selected controls (individuals without MSK disorders, matched by age and gender). Resource use was valued using country-specific costs. Two-part model regressions were fitted. A descriptive analysis of catastrophic expenditure was also conducted.
main outcome measureHealthcare costs, productivity costs and total costs.
resultsAnnual average productivity and healthcare costs were, respectively, 3.5 and 3 times higher for those with likely MSK disorders than controls. Productivity costs of individuals with MSK disorders were Int$487 vs Int$132 in the control group (difference: Int$355, 95% CI Int$222 to Int$488). Healthcare costs in those with MSK were Int$269 vs Int$88 in the control group (difference: Int$181, 95% CI Int$34 to Int$327). The difference in terms of out-of-pocket expenses was economically substantial in magnitude, although not statistically significant.
conclusionThe evidence will be used to inform policies addressing MSK disorders, by promoting the design of interventions, service provision, health promotion and awareness activities at local, regional and national level.
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