A PRECISE METHOD FOR ESTIMATING THE ECONO MIC COSTS OF MALARIA - APPLICATION OF THE METHOD IN A RURAL AREA IN BURKINA-FASO (WEST-AFRICA)

A precise method to estimate the cost of malaria in a rural area was d eveloped and applied in 3 villages in Burkina Faso. The estimate takes into account direct costs such as consultation fees, microscopic exam inations, medication and transport as well as indirect casts caused by lost workdays. The formula uses 6 variables: age of subject, degree o f invalidity, duration of illness, profession, income and percentage o f income lost. In the region of Bobo-Dioulasso, 3065 health centre cli ents were registered in the course of the study: 17% had been clinical ly diagnosed as having malaria but this was confirmed microscopically in only 11.6% of cases; 73.1% were children aged <5 years, 13.9% child ren aged 6-15 years, 12.2% adults aged 16-50 years and 0.8% adults age d >50 years. Most patients worked in agriculture and trade. The averag e duration of illness was 4 days, with each case incurring a cost of $ 11.7 comprised of $8 direct costs and $3.7 indirect costs.