Abstract:
The objectives of this research are to determine magnitude of cost, analysis the cost components and performance of leprosy case detection at Bang Khen Skin Clinic in undertaking active and passive case detection. The study is a retrospective analytical study, using the cost data of the B.E. 2534 (1991) fiscal year. The criteria to allocate (cost) were determined by time spent on activities. The observation and time motion were undertaken randomly within a certain period of time. The study reported that the total cost per visit of leprosy case detection within the skin clinic, the leprosy clinic and the following up are 62, 350 and 366.6 Bahts respectively (the average total cost of all activities is 259.6 Bahts, S.D. 171.3, median 350.1, range 304.6) and labor cost is the largest component for all activities. The total cost per case of leprosy case detection within the skin clinic, the leprosy clinic and the following up are 170, 458 and 2,997 Bahts respectively (the average total cost of all activities is 1,208.6 Bahts, S.D. 1,555.5, median 458.2, range 2,826.5). Within the skin clinic, the material cost is the largest component of total cost (52.8%) and the medical cost is up to 83.4%. Within the leprosy clinic, the labor cost is the largest component of total cost (79.2%) and the medical cost is up to 93.8%. The following up activity, labor cost is the largest component (99.4%) and the medical cost is 97.5%. The performance analysis reported that, of all 32 new cases detected that year, 27 cases (84.4%) were detected at the skin clinic whereas 4 cases (12.5%) and 1 case (3.1%) were detected via the leprosy clinic and the following up activity respectively. Disability rate among new cases at the skin clinic, the leprosy clinic and the following up were 80%, 20%, and 0% respectively.