Socioeconomic challenges of chronic suppurative otitis media management in state tertiary health facility in Nigeria

Abstract EN

-Chronic suppurative otitis media (CSOM) is a serious health care concern worldwide due to its substantial financial and non-financial burden.

The aim was to determine the socio-economic challenges of CSOM in developing economy.

Methods: It is a nine month prospective study of all patients with a diagnosis of CSOM seen at Kogi State Specialist Hospital in north-central Nigeria.

A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect relevant information from patients/caregiver after an informed consent and ethical clearance obtained from relevant authorities.

Information retrieved included socio-demographic data, site and duration of discharge, the financial cost of various stages of treatment and follow up.

Result: Eighty-two new patients were seen during the study period aged 2–56 years with a mean age was 8.84 years, male:female ratio of 2.2:1.

About 84.1% of the patients were from within the town.

The average cost of consultation per visit was 150 NGN (US$1.00).

The recorded cost of outpatient medical management with basic investigation was about 14,550.00 NGN (US$97) while those requiring rehabilitation was 85,100 NGN (US$567.3).

The average cost of medication and Corresponding author.

Present address: Department of Otorhinolaryngology, University of Ilorin, Ilorin 240001, Nigeria.