The Economic Impact of Kala-zar:the case of Umsalala and Mushr'a Koka villages,El Gadarif State, Eastern Sudan

Abstract

Kala-azar is considered as one of the most important parasitic disease affecting humans, and both wild and domestic animals. Nearly (350) million people are at risk worldwide. From 1990s, Kala-azar was considered to be the most important health problem in Sudan, particularly in the main endemic in eastern and central regions. The disease spread to other areas that were previously not known to be endemic for Kala-azar. The study aimed at describing and measuring the economic burden of Kala-azar on household. Kala-azar was selected as a focus of this study because of its significant economic effect on patient and their families. In addition, the disease affects the population in the most productive zones in the Sudan. The study hypothesized that Kala-azar has a significant statistical effect on the household budgets, because of the cost of treatment which is very high. The study based on a field survey conducted in Umsalala and Mushra Koka villages, where a sample of (83) household was selected at random. A structured questionnaire was used in data collection. The main findings of this study were that the members infected by the disease in the household contribute less to the household income than members infected by other disease and the impact of Kala-azar has been found to be statistically significant compare to other diseases. Furthermore, the treatment of Kala-azar costs (38.5%) of household income which is very high considering the low income of the population. The study recommended that increases efforts should be directed control the disease using both curative and preventive medicines to reduce the economic impact of the disease