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Modelling the economic burden of SARS-CoV-2 infection in health care workers in four countries

Author

Listed:
  • Huihui Wang

    (World Bank)

  • Wu Zeng

    (Georgetown University)

  • Kenneth Munge Kabubei

    (World Bank Kenya Office)

  • Jennifer J. K. Rasanathan

    (Independent Consultant)

  • Jacob Kazungu

    (KEMRI Welcome Trust Research Program)

  • Sandile Ginindza

    (Pact)

  • Sifiso Mtshali

    (University of KwaZulu-Natal)

  • Luis E. Salinas

    (World Bank Colombia Office)

  • Amanda McClelland

    (Resolve to Save Lives)

  • Marine Buissonniere

    (Resolve to Save Lives)

  • Christopher T. Lee

    (Resolve to Save Lives)

  • Jane Chuma

    (World Bank Kenya Office)

  • Jeremy Veillard

    (World Bank Colombia Office)

  • Thulani Matsebula

    (World Bank South Africa Office)

  • Mickey Chopra

    (World Bank)

Abstract

Health care workers (HCWs) experienced greater risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection during the COVID-19 pandemic. This study applies a cost-of-illness (COI) approach to model the economic burden associated with SARS-CoV-2 infections among HCWs in five low- and middle-income sites (Kenya, Eswatini, Colombia, KwaZulu-Natal province, and Western Cape province of South Africa) during the first year of the pandemic. We find that not only did HCWs have a higher incidence of COVID-19 than the general population, but in all sites except Colombia, viral transmission from infected HCWs to close contacts resulted in substantial secondary SARS-CoV-2 infection and death. Disruption in health services as a result of HCW illness affected maternal and child deaths dramatically. Total economic losses attributable to SARS-CoV-2 infection among HCWs as a share of total health expenditure ranged from 1.51% in Colombia to 8.38% in Western Cape province, South Africa. This economic burden to society highlights the importance of adequate infection prevention and control measures to minimize the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection in HCWs.

Suggested Citation

  • Huihui Wang & Wu Zeng & Kenneth Munge Kabubei & Jennifer J. K. Rasanathan & Jacob Kazungu & Sandile Ginindza & Sifiso Mtshali & Luis E. Salinas & Amanda McClelland & Marine Buissonniere & Christopher , 2023. "Modelling the economic burden of SARS-CoV-2 infection in health care workers in four countries," Nature Communications, Nature, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:nat:natcom:v:14:y:2023:i:1:d:10.1038_s41467-023-38477-7
    DOI: 10.1038/s41467-023-38477-7
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    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Paul Hanly & Michelle Ahern & Linda Sharp & Diana Ursul & Gerard Loughnane, 2022. "Correction to: The cost of lost productivity due to premature mortality associated with COVID-19: a Pan-European study," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 23(1), pages 153-153, February.
    2. Paul Hanly & Michelle Ahern & Linda Sharp & Diana Ursul & Gerard Loughnane, 2022. "The cost of lost productivity due to premature mortality associated with COVID-19: a Pan-European study," The European Journal of Health Economics, Springer;Deutsche Gesellschaft für Gesundheitsökonomie (DGGÖ), vol. 23(2), pages 249-259, March.
    3. Eduardo Levy Yeyati & Federico Filippini., 2021. "Social and Economic Impact of COVID-19," Department of Economics Working Papers wp_gob_2021_09, Universidad Torcuato Di Tella.
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