Cost estimate of hospital stays for premature newborns of adolescent mothers in a Brazilian public hospital

• Autor(a) principal: Mwamakamba, Lutufyo Witson [UNIFESP]
• Data de Publicação: 2014
• Outros Autores: Zucchi, Paola
• Tipo de documento: Artigo
• Idioma: eng
• Título da fonte: Repositório Institucional da UNIFESP
• Texto Completo: http://dx.doi.org/10.1590/S1679-45082014GS2959; http://repositorio.unifesp.br/handle/11600/8338
• topic: Cost and cost analysis; Pregnancy in adolescence; Obstetric labor, premature; Infant, premature; Intensive care, neonatal; Custo e análise de custo; Gravidez na adolescência; Trabalho de parto prematuro; Prematuro; Terapia intensiva neonatal

Objective: To estimate the direct costs of hospital stay for premature newborns of adolescent mothers, in a public hospital. Method: A cost estimate study conducted between 2009 and 2011, in which direct hospital costs were estimated for premature newborns of adolescent mothers, with 22 to 36 6/7 gestational weeks, and treated at the neonatal unit of the hospital. Result: In 2006, there were 5,180 deliveries at this hospital, and 17.8% (922) were newborns of adolescent mothers, of which 19.63% (181) were admitted to the neonatal unit. Out of the 181 neonates, 58% (105) were premature and 80% (84) of them were included in this study. These 84 neonates had a total of 1,633 days in-patient hospital care at a total cost of US$195,609.00. Approximately 72% of this total cost (US$141,323.00) accounted for hospital services. The mean daily costs ranged from US$97.00 to US$157.00. Conclusion: This study demonstrated that the average cost of premature newborns from adolescent mothers was US$2,328.00 and varied according to birth weight. For those weighing <1,000g at birth, the mean direct cost was US$8,930.00 per stay as opposed to a cost of US$642.00 for those with birth weight >2,000g. The overall estimated direct cost for the 84 neonates in the study totaled US$195,609.00.