Economic burden of HIV/AIDS on households: Cross-sectional study in the context of Navi Mumbai, India

Abstract

Context

HIV is chronic, stigmatizing disease that has the microeconomic and

macroeconomic implications as well.

Purpose of the study and procedures

We explored the extent of direct and indirect monetary burden that HIV puts

on the household, and further correlated it with per capita income of the

household and gender of the HIV patient. From a cohort of 547 patients

taking Anti-Retroviral therapy (ART) from ART Centre at Vashi, in Navi

Mumbai, we selected 61 male, 38 female and 1 transgender patient satisfying

inclusion criteria, by simple random method. Data was analyzed using SPSS

15.0.

Findings

We found that indirect monetary burden (81%) is significantly high than direct

monetary burden (19%). For most of the households, monetary burden due to

HIV is more than 10% of household income. We found negative correlation

between per capita income and share of total monetary burden in household

income (p <0.01). Share of total monetary burden in household income is

significantly less if the patient is female than if the patient is male (p <0.04).

Conclusions

We conclude that HIV is a catastrophic disease, more so for poor households. Indirect costs should be rapt

whenever an attempt is made to alleviate the monetary burden due to HIV. Findings have significant policy

implications, because most of the policies formed to reduce economic burden focus on direct costs. During

policy formulation; social, economic and gender inequities and their effects on individual as well as household

level are important considerations.