Análise de custos da atenção hospitalar ao parto vaginal e à cesariana eletiva para gestantes de risco habitual no Sistema Único de Saúde / Costs analysis of hospital care for vaginal delivery and elective caesarean section for usual risk pregnant women in the Brazilian Unified National Health System

Resumo Esse estudo estimou os custos do parto vaginal e da cesariana eletiva, sem indicação clínica, para gestantes de risco habitual na perspectiva do Sistema Único de Saúde provedor. A coleta de dados incluiu três maternidades públicas situadas na região Sudeste, nas quais foram realizadas visitas e entrevistas com os profissionais. Os itens de custos incluídos foram recursos humanos, insumos hospitalares, custo de capital e administrativos, que foram identificados, quantificados e valorados pelo método de microcusteio. Foram identificados custos com o parto vaginal, cesariana eletiva e diária em alojamento conjunto para as três maternidades. A média do custo do procedimento parto vaginal foi de R$ 808,16 e variou de R$ 585,74 a R$ 916,14 entre as maternidades. O custo médio da cesariana eletiva foi de R$ 1.113,70 com variação de R$ 652,69 a R$ 1.516,02. O principal item de custo foi os recursos humanos em ambos os procedimentos. Com a inclusão do período de permanência em alojamento conjunto, o custo médio do parto vaginal foi de R$ 1.397,91 (R$ 1.287,50 - R$ 1.437,87) e da cesariana R$ 1.843,8791 (R$ 1.521,54 - R$ 2.161,98), este 32% superior ao primeiro. As análises de custo na atenção perinatal contribuem para a gestão dos serviços de saúde, além de serem essenciais para análises de custo-efetividade.

Abstract This study estimated the costs of vaginal delivery and elective cesarean section without clinical indication, for usual risk pregnant women from the perspective of the Brazilian Unified Health System. Data was collected from three public maternity hospitals located in the southeast region of Brazil through visits and interviews with professionals. The cost components were human resources, hospital supplies, capital cost and overhead, which were identified, quantified and valued through the micro-costing method. The costs with vaginal delivery, elective cesarean section and daily hospital charge in rooming for the three maternity hospitals were identified. The mean cost of a vaginal delivery procedure was R$ 808.16 and ranged from R$ 585.74 to R$ 916.14 between hospitals. The mean cost of elective cesarean section was R$ 1,113.70, ranging from R$ 652.69 to R$ 1,516.02. The main cost component was human resources for both procedures. When stay in rooming was included, the mean costs of vaginal delivery and cesarean were R$ 1,397.91 (R$ 1,287.50 - R$ 1,437.87) and R$ 1,843.87 (R$ 1,521.54 - R$ 2,161.98), respectively. Cost analyses of perinatal care contribute to the management of health services and are essential for cost-effectiveness analysis.

The cost-savings of implementing kangaroo mother care in Nicaragua / Reducción de costos mediante la implantación del método madre canguro en Nicaragua

OBJECTIVE: To examine the costs of implementing kangaroo mother care (KMC) in a referral hospital in Nicaragua, including training, implementation, and ongoing operating costs, and to estimate the economic impact on the Nicaraguan health system if KMC were implemented in other maternity hospitals in the country. METHODS: After receiving clinical training in KMC, the implementation team trained their colleagues, wrote guidelines for clinicians and education material for parents, and ensured adherence to the new guidelines. The intervention began September 2010 The study compared data on infant weight, medication use, formula consumption, incubator use, and hospitalization for six months before and after implementation. Cost data were collected from accounting records of the implementers and health ministry formularies. RESULTS: A total of 46 randomly selected infants before implementation were compared to 52 after implementation. Controlling for confounders, neonates after implementation had lower lengths of hospitalization by 4.64 days (P = 0.017) and 71% were exclusively breastfed (P < 0.001). The intervention cost US$ 23 113 but the money saved with shorter hospitalization, elimination of incubator use, and lower antibiotic and infant formula costs made up for this expense in 1 - 2 months. Extending KMC to 12 other facilities in Nicaragua is projected to save approximately US$ 166 000 (based on the referral hospital incubator use estimate) or US$ 233 000 after one year (based on the more conservative incubator use estimate). CONCLUSIONS: Treating premature and low-birth-weight infants in Nicaragua with KMC implemented as a quality improvement program saves money within a short period even without considering the beneficial health effects of KMC. Implementation in more facilities is strongly recommended.

OBJETIVO: Analizar los costos de la implantación del método madre canguro en un hospital de referencia de Nicaragua, incluidos los costos de capacitación, implantación y funcionamiento, y calcular la repercusión económica en el sistema de salud nicaragüense si se aplicara el método en otras maternidades del país. MÉTODOS: Tras recibir capacitación clínica en el método, los miembros del equipo encargado de su implantación capacitaron a sus colegas, elaboraron directrices para los médicos y material educativo para los padres, y garantizaron la adhesión a las nuevas directrices. La intervención empezó en septiembre del 2010. El estudio comparó los siguientes datos: peso de los lactantes, empleo de medicamentos, consumo de leches maternizadas, uso de incubadoras, y hospitalizaciones durante los seis meses previos y posteriores a la implantación. Los datos relativos a los costos se recopilaron a partir de los registros contables de los ejecutores y los formularios del Ministerio de Salud. RESULTADOS: Los datos de 46 lactantes seleccionados aleatoriamente antes de la implantación se compararon con los de 52 lactantes del período posterior a la intervención. Mediante el control de los factores de confusión, después de la intervención, el tiempo medio de hospitalización de los recién nacidos fue inferior en 4,64 días (P = 0,017), y el 71% (P < 0,001) de los lactantes recibieron lactancia materna exclusiva. La intervención tuvo un costo de US$ 23 113 pero el dinero ahorrado gracias a la menor duración de las hospitalizaciones, la eliminación del uso de incubadoras, y la reducción de los costos en antibióticos y leches maternizadas compensó estos gastos en uno a dos meses. Se proyecta extender el método a otros 12 establecimientos sanitarios de Nicaragua para ahorrar aproximadamente US$ 233 000 (con base en el cálculo del uso de incubadoras en el hospital de referencia) o US$ 166 000 (con base en un cálculo más conservador del uso de incubadoras) al cabo de un año. CONCLUSIONES: El tratamiento de los neonatos prematuros y con bajo peso al nacer mediante el método madre canguro, implantado como un programa de mejora de la calidad en Nicaragua, ahorra dinero en un período corto, incluso sin tener en cuenta los efectos beneficiosos del método sobre la salud. Se recomienda su implantación en otros establecimientos sanitarios.

Triaging patients with post-abortion complications: a prospective study in Nepal.

The first manual vacuum aspiration (MVA) services unit in Nepal was established in 1995 at the country's largest national maternity hospital in Kathmandu. This research sought to assess and evaluate the safety, acceptability, and effectiveness of MVA services. This prospective study was conducted during 12 months in 1998, and follow-up was made at six weeks. Two groups of patients were compared: 529 patients treated in the MVA unit and 236 patients who were clinically eligible for treatment in the MVA unit but were treated instead in the main operation theatre (OT) owing to the unavailability of services in the MVA unit during the hours of their admission. The two groups differed with respect to some of their background characteristics but were similar in their clinical characteristics. The MVA group received contraceptive counselling and services and had significantly shorter stays in hospital. However, the direct cost incurred by the patients, regardless of the type of facility they used, was about the same. Follow-up at six weeks revealed that the MVA patients had significantly fewer complaints and were generally more satisfied with the services they had received than their counterparts. Slightly more than half of the women in the MVA group were using contraception at the time of follow-up compared to no women in the OT group. It is concluded that the MVA unit provided safe, effective, and efficient services to about 50% of all the patients admitted to the hospital with post-abortion complications. An additional 25% of the post-abortion patients could be served if the unit were kept open 24 hours a day, saving resources and time for patients and hospital staff. As a parallel development, both MVA and main OT services would need to be more effectively integrated with outside antenatal and family-planning clinics to address the reproductive health needs of women, thereby reducing the number of patients requiring post-abortion care.