Cost Effectiveness of Surgical Outreach Compared with Routine Surgeries at a Facility in Jos, Nigeria

Abstract

This is a cost effectiveness analysis study of patients whose surgical conditions were treated during a free surgical outreach program at a facility Jos, Plateau State, Nigeria over a four week period in, 2013.A total of 264 surgical operations were carried out on 253 patients, Males (56%) and females (44%). The mean age of beneficiaries was 38years+17.2SD, the youngest being 10months and the oldest being 70years. Surgeries done were herniorrhaphies and hydrocelectomies 79(29.92%), appendicectomy 28(10.52%), Thyroidectomies 7(2.65%) Laparotomies 5(1.89%), Obstetric and Gynaecoloical surgeries 33(12.50%), Pediatric 15(5.78) and lump excisions 97(36.84%). Two-thirds (66.67%) of cases were done under local anesthesia, spinal and general anesthesia were used in 8.77% and 24.56% of cases respectively. No mortality was recorded, surgical site infection 7 (2.65%), YB;N routine procedure N5, 754,732.72($35,967.08), a unit price of 21,798.23($136.24). Surgical outreach is a cost effective method of surgery compared to routine referral system and it also reduces surgical burden in a resource poor communities.