Incidence of tuberculosis in the association of South-East Asia Nation (ASEAN) countries and its relation with health expenditure: a secondary data analysis.

Abstract

Introduction: Tuberculosis (TB) is an infectious disease that mainly affects the lungs. ASEAN is responsible for the high incidence of tuberculosis recorded worldwide. Therefore, this study analyses the trend of tuberculosis and its association with per capita health expenditure in ASEAN. Methods: The incidence of tuberculosis and the per capita health expenditure are collected from Global Health Observatory resources and World Bank Organization. The data were interpreted using SPSS Software Version 23 and the results were presented in graphs and tables. Results: Six ASEAN countries showed a declining trend, three countries had a fluctuating trend, and one country had an increasing trend in the incidence of tuberculosis. There was a relationship between mean TB cases (per 1,00,000 population) and mean per capita (US$) health expenditure. On an average, Singapore spends the highest amount per capita, whereas Myanmar spends the least amount per capita on health. Conclusion: Generally, ASEAN is showing a decreasing trend in the incidence of tuberculosis. Delay in diagnosis, ageing populations, and immigrants are identified as the barriers to curb the incidence of tuberculosis in ASEAN. Moreover, ASEAN countries should consider increased health expenditure when planning strategies to reduce the incidence of tuberculosis.