Direct Cost of Severe Malaria Treatment Borne by the Families of Children Aged 0 - 5 Years at the Fana Reference Health Centre, Mali

Introduction: Malaria is both a disease caused by poverty and a cause of poverty. Malaria is the leading cause of morbidity and mortality in Mali and is among the ten countries with the highest number of malaria cases and deaths. The objective was to estimate the direct economic cost borne by families in the treatment of severe malaria in children aged 0 - 5 years at the CSREF in Fana. Methodology: The study was cross-sectional, conducted from July 2017 to June 2018 with inclusion criteria and prospective data collection. The methodology was based on estimating the direct economic cost of severe malaria. Results: The sample consisted of 109 cases out of a total of 944 hospitalizations; 59% of whom were boys and the 25 - 36 month age group was the most affected. The complications frequently encountered were severe anemia (50 cases) or 45.8%; convulsions (35 cases) or 32.1% and finally severe sepsis (8 cases) or 7.3%. The average direct cost was 25,324 Franc CFA (58.95 US Dollars) of which 66% represented the costs of medicines and consumables against 4% for the consultation. This cost was more than half the minimum wage in Mali. Conclusion: Despite the difficulties in estimating the cost in hospitals, the results obtained give us an estimate of the economic burden borne by families in the management of severe malaria cases among children in the district of Fana. Support is needed for parents in the fight against malaria in rural Mali.