Journal of Public Health and Diseases

The economic burden of cancer is very high; health care providers need to provide quality cost-effective care that will shorten the stay of patients in the hospital and reduce the frequency of visit to health facilities. This study provides information about the economic burden of households affected by cancer among patients attending Jos University Teaching Hospital, Plateau State, Nigeria. A cross-sectional descriptive survey design was conducted in 2015, with the sample size of 179 cancer patients drawn consecutively from an estimated population of 276 that used the hospital in one year. A structured questionnaire was used to collect data assisted by two trained research assistants from the oncology clinic. Data were analyzed descriptively using frequencies, percentages, mean and standard deviation while Chi-square was used to test for association. Majority of respondents were ranked among the lower socio-economic group. The direct monthly medical cost of cancer incurred by patients and their household was high; N30,757.95 + 27,325.82. The mean monthly total income of the patients was N65,978.74 + 104,036.97, the mean monthly patients’ expenditure was N43,916.28 + 56,070.33, the mean total annual loss was N217,515.19 + 798,708.95, the mean patients’ annual loss as a percentage of their mean annual income was 11.38 + 19.13% while as a percentage of their mean annual expenditure was 50.06 + 421.98 . There was significance difference (p<0.05) in the cost distribution among different socio-economic groups; lower, middle and upper with regards to the monthly patient total income, earnings and annual loss of person accompanying the patient, patient loss, accompanying persons’ loss, total loss, patients’ annual loss, and total annual loss. Cancer management is critical to the survival of the patient, hence, there is need for government to intervene by subsidizing the cost of cancer treatment. There is also need for public enlightenment on regular screening for early detect and prevention of cancer.