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Human African trypanosomiasis in a rural community, Democratic Republic of Congo


Document type: article
Download file(s): 118188 (225 KB)
Abstract: According to the World Health Organization, human African trypanosomiasis (HAT) (sleeping sickness) caused the loss of ≈1.5 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) in 2002. This article describes the effect of HAT during 2000–2002 in Buma, a rural community near Kinshasa in the Democratic Republic of Congo. Retrospective questionnaire surveys were used to estimate HAT-related household costs and DALYs. The HAT outbreak in Buma involved 57 patients and affected 47 (21%) households. The cost to each household was equivalent to 5 months’ income for that household. The total number of HAT-related DALYs was 2,145, and interventions to control HAT averted 1,408 DALYs. The cost per DALY averted was US $17. Because HAT has a serious economic effect on households and control interventions are cost-effective, considering only global burden of disease rankings for resource allocation could lead to misguided priority setting if applied without caution in HAT-affected countries.
Authors: Lutumba, P. , Makieya, E. , Shaw, A. , Meheus, F. , Boelaert, M.
Country: Democratic Republic of the Congo
Category: Research
End Page: 254
Serial number: 2
Volume: 13
Journal: Emerging Infectious Diseases
Keywords: health , disease prevention and control
Language: eng
Organization: KIT - Royal Tropical Institute
Year: 2007
Region: Africa , Africa South of Sahara , Central Africa
Right: Copyright status unknown
Subject: Health and Nutrition
Start Page: 248
Title: Human African trypanosomiasis in a rural community, Democratic Republic of Congo