Analysis of Cost Associated With Treatment of Road Traffic Injuries Among Victims at the Kenyatta National Hospita ln Nairobi city kenya

Abstract

Numerous reported studies have pointed out that road traffic injuries (RTIs) is a leading cause to fatalities of over one million victims globally per year and bears negative impact on health, econom yand development of the society as a whole. Furthermore, young men and women at their mosteconomic age group have been identified tobehighly affected by RTIsthatcould resultintomortality and very severe morbidity due disability. However, there is little or no published evidenceon healthcare resource allocations and utilization after RTIs, especially in developing countries thatinclude those in Africa. This is ironical in relation to the impact of road traffic accidents as it isprojected that by the year 2030, RTIs will be the fifth cause of disability adjusted life years (DALYs)lost. The main objective of this study was to analyze the total hospital cost related to RTI (Roadtraffic injury)victims admitted for a period of 3months. This was a cross sectional study designdoneattheKenyattaHospital Nairobi,surgicalwardsandAccident& Emergency.A sample(n=124) consisted of new victims admitted to the Hospital due to RTI from January 25th 2019 to 24thApril 2019., which was two thirds of the sample size at 74% respondent rate who gave consent andall ethical approvalsgranted.Theindependentvariablewas thecostof treatmentwhilethedependent variable was direct medical treatment cost, non-medical treatment cost, productivity lossand length of stay. Data collected included social demographic and injury characteristics of studyrespondents. Total costs of treatment by participants plus their family members, which was directmedicaltreatmentcosts,indirect-medicaltreatmentcostsandproductivityloss.PrimaryDatacollections was donethrough interviews of all victims admittedattheKNHthrough A&Eandqualify as per the inclusion criteria, the victims were admitted at the surgical unit level 4,5, and 6.The data collection of direct and indirect medical cost was by data extraction tool, testing of the toolswas done at the surgical ward. Productivity loss of the victims was calculated by use of WorkProductivity and Activity Impairment Questionnaire (WPAIQ).SPSS version 22 was applied anddescriptive statistics to show frequencies and Percentages for categorical variables (victim’s uniqueindividualized characteristics). Multi Linear Regression Model Test was used test the relationshipbetween the independent and dependent variables. The study results indicated that direct cost factors(laboratorycost,A&EChargesandDiagnosticCost)(X1:β1=.199,P<.047),(X3:β3=.469,P< .037), and (X4:β4=.029, P<.048) had a significant influence on the overall cost of treatment ofRTIvictims seeking treatmentat the KNH, there was no significant relationship between BedCharges (X2: β2=.117, P>.689) and the cost of treatment ofRTI victims seeking treatment at theKNH.ThefindingsofthestudyalsoindicatedthatY=7.949+..001X1+0.458X2+0..239X3+0. .305X4+e where a .199 change in direct cost, .117 changes in indirect cost, .469 change in totalproductivitycostand.029changesindurationofstayinhospitalinfluencedaunitchangeonthecost of treatment of RTI victims seeking treatment at the KNH. The study concludes thatRoadtrafficaccidentisan economicburden toindividual,familyandcountry atlarge.Thestudyrecommended that there should be an awareness onmportanceofNHIF as an universal healthcoverage tool for people at an affordable cost,there is need to reduce the indirect cost of treatment byensuring that all the tests and diagnosis are done in one day to reduce the various trips to the hospitalso that the relatives that accompany the victims to the hospital do not lose a lot of money throughtransport and many other associated indirect cost of treatment, there is need for the policymakers todevelop a system of checking on effeciency on services as evidenced by shorterlength of stay inhospital, and that there is also need to acknowledge that RTI victims may require additional supportto fromone personortwofurtherincreasing productivitytime associatedwiththe injury.