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Healthcare utilization patterns and economic burden of animal bites: A cross-sectional study
Authors: Vahid Bay1,2, Aziz Rezapour3 , Mehdi Jafari1 , Mohammad Reza Maleki1 , Irvan Masoudi Asl
Number of views: 105
Objective: To determine the healthcare utilization patterns and
estimate the economic burden of animal bites in Golestan province,
north part of Iran.
Methods: This cross-sectional study was performed based on the
data of 12 181 animal-bite patients from Golestan province who
were referred to the rabies prophylaxis centers between March
2019 and March 2020. The study was a societal perspective, and
all patients were investigated by census method. The micro-costing
method with a bottom-up approach as well as the human capital
approach were used to estimate the economic burden.
Results: In our study, the economic burden caused by animal bites
was estimated at $1 383 639 (275 354 672 060 Rials). The largest
share of costs was related to direct healthcare costs, direct nonhealthcare costs, and indirect costs accouting for 91%, 5%, and
4%, respectively. In addition, the average cost of a animal-bite
patient was estimated at $113.5 (22 605 260 Rials) (The average
cost of a case in type 2 and 3 exposures was $45 and $412.8,
respectively). The largest share of direct healthcare costs was related
to immunoglobulin, vaccine, and personnel expenses accounting for
61.3%, 19.8%, and 11.65%, respectively.
Conclusions: Our study shows that animal bites in Golestan
province, north of Iran impose a high economic burden on the
communities, especially the healthcare system, which indicates the
need to review management and control programs of animal bites
and rabies based on animal-bite patterns of the area.