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Modelling the economic burden of SARS-CoV-2 infection in health care workers in four countries.
- Source :
-
Nature communications [Nat Commun] 2023 May 16; Vol. 14 (1), pp. 2791. Date of Electronic Publication: 2023 May 16. - Publication Year :
- 2023
-
Abstract
- Health care workers (HCWs) experienced greater risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study applies a cost-of-illness (COI) approach to model the economic burden associated with SARS-CoV-2 infections among HCWs in five low- and middle-income sites (Kenya, Eswatini, Colombia, KwaZulu-Natal province, and Western Cape province of South Africa) during the first year of the pandemic. We find that not only did HCWs have a higher incidence of COVID-19 than the general population, but in all sites except Colombia, viral transmission from infected HCWs to close contacts resulted in substantial secondary SARS-CoV-2 infection and death. Disruption in health services as a result of HCW illness affected maternal and child deaths dramatically. Total economic losses attributable to SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCWs as a share of total health expenditure ranged from 1.51% in Colombia to 8.38% in Western Cape province, South Africa. This economic burden to society highlights the importance of adequate infection prevention and control measures to minimize the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in HCWs.<br /> (© 2023. The Author(s).)
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 2041-1723
- Volume :
- 14
- Issue :
- 1
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Nature communications
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 37188709
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-023-38477-7