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Table 2 Types of Costs

From: Tuberculosis and poverty: the contribution of patient costs in sub-Saharan Africa – a systematic review

Cost categories

Definition

Direct or indirect

Pre- or post-diagnosis

Number of studies reporting cost category

Range (median) of costs

Health insurance

Costs required for national health insurance schemes to finance TB care

Direct

Pre-diagnosis

2

I$2- I$3 (I$2)

Consultation or prepayment fees

Costs charged by providers before diagnosis or treatment

Direct

Pre-diagnosis

4

I$2- I$7 (I$3)

Private provider fees

Costs charged in the private sector rather than the public sector

Direct

Both

4

I$24- I$141 (I$41)

Hospitalization

Costs associated with hospitalization due to TB

Direct

Post-diagnosis

10

I$1- I$530 (I$80)

Medication

Costs of medications including standard TB treatment under non-DOTS systems and other drugs

Direct

Post-diagnosis

5

I$15- I$548 (I$21)a

Diagnostic tests

Costs for tests other than sputum microscopy such as x-rays, chest radiographs, or other laboratory tests

Direct

Pre-diagnosis

3

I$7- I$10 (I$9)

Traditional healer

Costs associated with seeking traditional healers before Western medical care

Direct

Pre-diagnosis

5

I$4- I$563 (I$15)

Food

Costs for regular food and food separate from normal diets such as potatoes, eggs, meat, fruit, and soft drinks [58]

Direct

Post-diagnosis

4

I$4- I$36 (I$10)

Travel

Costs for travel association with pre-diagnosis, consultation, diagnosis, treatment, pill collection, DOTS and follow-up treatment visits.

Direct

Both

18

I$0.17- I$70 (I$5)

Time

Time and indirect costs associated with time spent seeking/receiving care and lost work time

Indirect

Both

21

I$0.23- I$412 (I$16)b

Caregiver

Costs to those accompanying patients to TB care visits, retrieving medications on their behalf, or cost of care-giving activities. Direct costs encompass travel expenses, food, or other costs such as paying for an overnight stay when making a long journey. Indirect costs include loss of income and time spent accompanying patients or providing care-giving activities.

Both

Both

8

I$0.41- I$1,510 (I$11)c

  1. a Note: Some medication estimates also include the cost of user/consultation fees; b Costs include only reported costs of income lost due to time; c Based on different categories of costs.