Rethinking the economic costs of malaria at the household level: Evidence from applying a new analytical framework in rural Kenya

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dc.contributor.authorChuma, Janeen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorThiede, Michaelen_ZA
dc.contributor.authorMolyneux, Catherineen_ZA
dc.date.accessioned2015-10-12T10:54:15Z
dc.date.available2015-10-12T10:54:15Z
dc.date.issued2006en_ZA
dc.description.abstractBACKGROUND:Malaria imposes significant costs on households and the poor are disproportionately affected. However, cost data are often from quantitative surveys with a fixed recall period. They do not capture costs that unfold slowly over time, or seasonal variations. Few studies investigate the different pathways through which malaria contributes towards poverty. In this paper, a framework indicating the complex links between malaria, poverty and vulnerability at the household level is developed and applied using data from rural Kenya. METHODS: Cross-sectional surveys in a wet and dry season provide data on treatment-seeking, cost-burdens and coping strategies (n = 294 and n = 285 households respectively). 15 case study households purposively selected from the survey and followed for one year provide in-depth qualitative information on the links between malaria, vulnerability and poverty. RESULTS: Mean direct cost burdens were 7.1% and 5.9% of total household expenditure in the wet and dry seasons respectively. Case study data revealed no clear relationship between cost burdens and vulnerability status at the end of the year. Most important was household vulnerability status at the outset. Households reporting major malaria episodes and other shocks prior to the study descended further into poverty over the year. Wealthier households were better able to cope. CONCLUSION: The impacts of malaria on household economic status unfold slowly over time. Coping strategies adopted can have negative implications, influencing household ability to withstand malaria and other contingencies in future. To protect the poor and vulnerable, malaria control policies need to be integrated into development and poverty reduction programmes.en_ZA
dc.identifier.apacitationChuma, J., Thiede, M., & Molyneux, C. (2006). Rethinking the economic costs of malaria at the household level: Evidence from applying a new analytical framework in rural Kenya. <i>Malaria Journal</i>, http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14178en_ZA
dc.identifier.chicagocitationChuma, Jane, Michael Thiede, and Catherine Molyneux "Rethinking the economic costs of malaria at the household level: Evidence from applying a new analytical framework in rural Kenya." <i>Malaria Journal</i> (2006) http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14178en_ZA
dc.identifier.citationChuma, J. M., Thiede, M., & Molyneux, C. S. (2006). Rethinking the economic costs of malaria at the household level: evidence from applying a new analytical framework in rural Kenya. Malaria Journal, 5(1), 76.en_ZA
dc.identifier.ris TY - Journal Article AU - Chuma, Jane AU - Thiede, Michael AU - Molyneux, Catherine AB - BACKGROUND:Malaria imposes significant costs on households and the poor are disproportionately affected. However, cost data are often from quantitative surveys with a fixed recall period. They do not capture costs that unfold slowly over time, or seasonal variations. Few studies investigate the different pathways through which malaria contributes towards poverty. In this paper, a framework indicating the complex links between malaria, poverty and vulnerability at the household level is developed and applied using data from rural Kenya. METHODS: Cross-sectional surveys in a wet and dry season provide data on treatment-seeking, cost-burdens and coping strategies (n = 294 and n = 285 households respectively). 15 case study households purposively selected from the survey and followed for one year provide in-depth qualitative information on the links between malaria, vulnerability and poverty. RESULTS: Mean direct cost burdens were 7.1% and 5.9% of total household expenditure in the wet and dry seasons respectively. Case study data revealed no clear relationship between cost burdens and vulnerability status at the end of the year. Most important was household vulnerability status at the outset. Households reporting major malaria episodes and other shocks prior to the study descended further into poverty over the year. Wealthier households were better able to cope. CONCLUSION: The impacts of malaria on household economic status unfold slowly over time. Coping strategies adopted can have negative implications, influencing household ability to withstand malaria and other contingencies in future. To protect the poor and vulnerable, malaria control policies need to be integrated into development and poverty reduction programmes. DA - 2006 DB - OpenUCT DO - 10.1186/1475-2875-5-76 DP - University of Cape Town J1 - Malaria Journal LK - https://open.uct.ac.za PB - University of Cape Town PY - 2006 T1 - Rethinking the economic costs of malaria at the household level: Evidence from applying a new analytical framework in rural Kenya TI - Rethinking the economic costs of malaria at the household level: Evidence from applying a new analytical framework in rural Kenya UR - http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14178 ER - en_ZA
dc.identifier.urihttp://hdl.handle.net/11427/14178
dc.identifier.urihttp://dx.doi.org/10.1186/1475-2875-5-76
dc.identifier.vancouvercitationChuma J, Thiede M, Molyneux C. Rethinking the economic costs of malaria at the household level: Evidence from applying a new analytical framework in rural Kenya. Malaria Journal. 2006; http://hdl.handle.net/11427/14178.en_ZA
dc.language.isoengen_ZA
dc.publisherBioMed Central Ltden_ZA
dc.publisher.departmentHealth Economics Uniten_ZA
dc.publisher.facultyFaculty of Health Sciencesen_ZA
dc.publisher.institutionUniversity of Cape Town
dc.rightsThis is an Open Access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution Licenseen_ZA
dc.rights.urihttp://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0en_ZA
dc.sourceMalaria Journalen_ZA
dc.source.urihttp://www.malariajournal.comen_ZA
dc.subject.otherHealth Economicsen_ZA
dc.titleRethinking the economic costs of malaria at the household level: Evidence from applying a new analytical framework in rural Kenyaen_ZA
dc.typeJournal Articleen_ZA
uct.type.filetypeText
uct.type.filetypeImage
uct.type.publicationResearchen_ZA
uct.type.resourceArticleen_ZA
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