Abstract:

There is paucity of information on the economic impact of diabetes mellitus in low and middle income countries, including Zimbabwe. The study sought to determine the patient treatment cost of paediatric diabetes mellitus on families of diabetic children attending Parirenyatwa, Harare and Chitungwiza hospital out-patient clinics in Zimbabwe.

A cross sectional study was conducted at Parirenyatwa, Harare and Chitungwiza hospitals between 10 May 2017 and 27 September 2017 in which all paediatric diabetic patients and carers were given the information on the study. A questionnaire was administered on all carers of paediatric diabetic patients’ who consented to participate in the study.

Only (36/85) 42% of the carers of paediatric diabetes mellitus children, who had attended the out-patient clinic in the year preceding the study at least once at Parirenyatwa, Harare and Chitungwiza hospital were accessed. Only 53% of the 36 children had a measure of glycaemic control, of whom 74% had HbA1c ≥7.5% indicating poor glycaemic control. Cash was the mode of payment used by the majority of the carers for child treatment, and the monthly expenditure was almost half of the family total income.

This study indicates a considerable portion of the family income is spent in child care of diabetic children and loss of productive time due to child care. Only a small proportion of the children was accessed during the study population which can be attributed to financial problems limiting clinic attendance. There was poor diabetic control amongst the paediatric diabetic patients who had HbA1c results.

Keywords: diabetes mellitus, diabetes mellitus cost, paediatric diabetes mellitus.

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