Original Research Article
Year: 2020 | Month: May | Volume: 10 | Issue: 5 | Pages: 176-180
Financial Coping Mechanisms in Patients with Type II Diabetes Mellitus in Rural India
Saima Nazir1; Ashiq Rashid Mir1; Arshad Rashid2
1Senior Resident, Department of Community Medicine, SKIMS Medical College, Bemina, Srinagar - 190018
2Lecturer, Department of Surgery, Government Medical College, Srinagar – 190010.
Corresponding Author: Arshad Rashid
ABSTRACT
Background:Understanding the financial burden and the pattern of costs involved in managing diabetes can help planners strengthen the basic health care programs. The present study was carried out to assess the cost of diabetes care and the financial coping mechanisms thereof.
Methods:The present study was carried out in the rural areas of district Tumkur, Karnataka. A total of 180 participants were included in this study. Data was collected using a pre-tested questionnaire, which was administered as a face-to-face interview during house-to-house visits by the second author.
Results:The mean age of the participants was 62.68 ± 8.4 years. The mean total direct cost incurred on managing diabetes was 408.12 ± 23.37 INR/month, while as the total indirect cost was 145.88 ± 11.42 INR/month (P<0.001). The total cost incurred during hospitalization was 201600 INR, which when calculated for individual admissions turned out to be 9600 INR. Majority of the people [126 (70%)] mobilized cash savings to cope-up with this financial burden, which was followed by borrowing money from friends /professional lenders in 52 (30%) individuals. None of our study subjects sold any assets to meet this expenditure and none of our patients had access to any health insurance scheme.
Conclusion: The present study points to the ever-increasing cost of diabetes care. The major economic impact of type II DM was due to high cost of the drugs. There is a glaring deficit of social insurance schemes that needs to be addressed.
Key words: Diabetes Mellitus; Financial; Cost; Rural.