Hospitalizations and costs incurred at the facility level after scale-up of malaria control: pre-post comparisons from two hospitals in Zambia

Am J Trop Med Hyg. 2014 Jan;90(1):20-32. doi: 10.4269/ajtmh.13-0019. Epub 2013 Nov 11.

Abstract

There is little evidence on the impact of malaria control on the health system, particularly at the facility level. Using retrospective, longitudinal facility-level and patient record data from two hospitals in Zambia, we report a pre-post comparison of hospital admissions and outpatient visits for malaria and estimated costs incurred for malaria admissions before and after malaria control scale-up. The results show a substantial reduction in inpatient admissions and outpatient visits for malaria at both hospitals after the scale-up, and malaria cases accounted for a smaller proportion of total hospital visits over time. Hospital spending on malaria admissions also decreased. In one hospital, malaria accounted for 11% of total hospital spending before large-scale malaria control compared with < 1% after malaria control. The findings demonstrate that facility-level resources are freed up as malaria is controlled, potentially making these resources available for other diseases and conditions.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Antimalarials / economics
  • Antimalarials / therapeutic use*
  • Child, Preschool
  • Female
  • Hospital Costs
  • Hospitalization / economics*
  • Humans
  • Longitudinal Studies
  • Malaria / economics*
  • Malaria / epidemiology
  • Malaria / prevention & control*
  • Male
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Time Factors
  • Zambia / epidemiology

Substances

  • Antimalarials