RESUMEN
PURPOSE: To estimate proportion of Myanmar paediatric population at risk of impoverishment and catastrophic expenditure due to emergency surgical intervention. METHODS: Prospective data were collected at two tertiary surgical centres including income, household expenses, expenses related to surgery. Data analysis was performed to estimate out-of-pocket (OOP) direct medical costs and OOP total costs. Catastrophic expenditure: expense exceeded 10% of household income. Risk of impoverishment: net income drops were below an impoverishment threshold (PPP-purchasing power parity): I$ 2.00 PPP/day, I$ 1.25/day PPP, national poverty line. Distribution of income was estimated using a gamma distribution. Comparison to an adult cohort was performed using Chi-square test with a p value of <0.05 being significant. RESULTS: A total of 145 surveys were collected, and 119 (82.1%) contained sufficient data: Paediatric Centre (n = 99) and Adult Centre (n = 20). Overall average per patient direct medical and non-medical OOP costs was I$493: Centre 1: I$540 PPP (range I$41-6,588 PPP) and Centre 2: I$437 PPP (range I$ 36-1,405 PPP). 64% experienced catastrophic expense. There is no significant difference between the centres in the risks of impoverishment or catastrophic expenditure (p = 0.05). Up to 44% are at risk of catastrophic expenditure should surgery be required. Most of the risk (90%) is derived from direct non-medical costs. A high proportion were at the national poverty line threshold (36.1%). Seeking surgical treatment would imperil up to 37% at the national poverty line threshold, and up to 5.7% at the I$2 PPP per day limit. CONCLUSIONS: A large proportion of the Myanmar population are at risk of impoverishment or catastrophic expenditure should they require surgery. Financial risk protection mechanisms are needed.