Ghandour, A. (2015). Out of Pocket Expenditure on Non-Communicable Diseases among Egyptian Patients. The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine, 58(1), 55-62. doi: 10.12816/0009361
Ahmed A. Ghandour. "Out of Pocket Expenditure on Non-Communicable Diseases among Egyptian Patients". The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine, 58, 1, 2015, 55-62. doi: 10.12816/0009361
Ghandour, A. (2015). 'Out of Pocket Expenditure on Non-Communicable Diseases among Egyptian Patients', The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine, 58(1), pp. 55-62. doi: 10.12816/0009361
Ghandour, A. Out of Pocket Expenditure on Non-Communicable Diseases among Egyptian Patients. The Egyptian Journal of Hospital Medicine, 2015; 58(1): 55-62. doi: 10.12816/0009361
Out of Pocket Expenditure on Non-Communicable Diseases among Egyptian Patients
Public Health and Community Medicine Department Damietta Faculty of Medicine, Al- Azhar University
Abstract
Background: Non communicable diseases (NCDs) are now the major cause of death and disability worldwide and increasingly affect people from developing as well as developed countries. NCDs account for 44 % of premature deaths worldwide. Over the next 20 years, it will cost > US $30 trillion. It was defined as the total amount of own money respondents spent on both medical expenses and nonmedical expenses related to care processes pertinent to healthcare. High levels of out of pocket expenditure on healthcare may leave insufficient income for other necessities, and may impede access to healthcare, affecting health status and quality of life. Objective: To determine the level of out of pocket expenditure of Egyptian patients who suffered from non communicable diseases. Methods: A descriptive cross sectional study was conducted on Al-Hosary Family Health Center (6th October City, Egypt) targeted chronic patients older than 18 years with one or more of diabetes mellitus, hypertension and dyslipidemia. An interviewing questionnaire was designed for data collection, which had been gathered during the period from February, 2014 to end of April, 2014. The number of patients who attended the center in that time and accepted to participate in the study and were sure about data related to their diseases and costs were 146 patients. Results: Results showed that mean age of the study participants was 48+6 years. Majority (76.7%) of the participants was females, 53.4% of the participants were suffering from DM while those who were suffering from hypertension represented 39.7% and 29.5% of them were suffered from dyslipidemia. 87% of the studied sample was non smoker while only 1.4% were alcoholic. 36.3% of the participants had different levels of regular physical activity; 11 % of them reached the required level of physical activity (≥ 30 minutes/day). Measuring of the obesity parameters revealed that mean BMI was 27+3 and mean waist circumference was 104+2 cm. Concerning out of pocket expenditure, 44.5% of the participants spent 500-1000 Egyptian pounds monthly for the management of their chronic diseases (DM, hypertension, dyslipidemia) while those who spent <500 L.E./month were 49.3%, and few patients (6.2%) reported that they spent >1000 L.E. monthly. The mean monthly out of pocket expenditure for the studied patients was 506.3+202.9 L.E. Concerning monthly out of pocket expenditure in relation to gender and employment, there is no significant statistical differences. There is a statistical highly significant difference between monthly out of pocket expenditure and number of chronic diseases. Conclusion: There is a high out of pocket expenditure for Egyptians with NCDs. Recommendations: Searching for alternatives for financial support of those patients, establishing a national health insurance program, effective intersectoral action, and improved access to basic healthcare.
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