Table 1 Operational definitions for cost categories:
Variables | Definitions |
|---|---|
Direct medical and non-medical cost | Out-of-pocket expenditure for TB treatment such as consultation, investigations, travel and food costs |
Indirect cost | Income loss of patient because of absence from work due to TB and/or time to seek care (includes time for travel, waiting and consultation and/or during hospitalization) |
Pre-diagnostic costs | Costs incurred during the phase from onset of symptoms till the diagnosis of TB |
Post-diagnostic costs: | It includes diagnostic, treatment, follow up and hospitalization costs |
Diagnostic costs | Costs incurred by patient and household for diagnosis |
Treatment costs | Costs related to DOTs, fetching medicines from health facility and costs related to any other medicines such as multivitamins |
Follow-up costs | Costs associated with investigation, any other medication, and travel and food costs during follow up visits |
Hospitalization costs | Costs for hospitalized patients including treatment, administrative (bed), laboratory investigation and medicine, food and travel costs and loss of income due to absence from work |