Abstract
Objective
to assess the home economics impact of illness from Tuberculosis in Brazil.
Method
multicenter cross-sectional research from 2016 to 2018, in five capitals of Brazil, in patients diagnosed with tuberculosis. The total costs were the sum of the direct and indirect costs incurred before and during diagnosis and treatment. Logistic regression was used to study determinants of catastrophic costs. Poverty was measured as daily household income per capita < U$ 5.5.
Results
361 patients were enrolled in the study. The extrapolation cost was R$ 3,664.47 (SD: R$ 2,667.67) and the total extrapolation cost was R$ 22,291.82 (SD: R$ 16,259.50). Overall, 29% of study participants were characterized as poor before tuberculosis, and 39% afterwards. On average, income declined by 11% among participants and 41% had catastrophic costs. The statistically significant determinants of experiencing catastrophic costs were: participant being the head of the family; living in poverty before tuberculosis; unemployment and interruption of work during treatment (p <0.05).
Conclusion and implications for practice
although treatment is financed by the government, tuberculosis continues to cause catastrophic costs and decreased of income for many families in Brazil.
Keywords:
Tuberculosis; Therapeutics; Costs and Cost Analysis; Cross-Sectional Studies; Brazil