Results from 2011 for the transportMYpatient program for overcoming transport costs among women seeking treatment for obstetric fistula in Tanzania

Fiander, Alison Nina, Ndahani, C., Mmuya, K. and Vanneste, T. 2013. Results from 2011 for the transportMYpatient program for overcoming transport costs among women seeking treatment for obstetric fistula in Tanzania. International Journal of Gynecology and Obstetrics 120 (3) , pp. 292-295. 10.1016/j.ijgo.2012.09.026

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Abstract

Background The Comprehensive Community Based Rehabilitation in Tanzania (CCBRT) Disability Hospital program transportMYpatient was launched in 2009 to address transport costs, which are a major barrier to patients accessing CCBRT health services. The initiative uses mobile phone technology to transfer funds to cover transport costs. Methods Data were reviewed for fistula patients using the transportMYpatient scheme in 2011, noting region of referral. Average costs of using the scheme were calculated and the location of "ambassadors" by region was recorded. Results Between 2005 and 2009, CCBRT repaired approximately 170 fistulas annually, increasing to 286 in 2010 and 339 in 2011. In 2011, the transportMYpatient initiative transported 166 fistula patients from almost all regions in Tanzania, accounting for 49% of total repairs. Conclusion The increase in referrals to CCBRT during 2011 as a result of the transportMYpatient program shows that transport costs are a real barrier to accessing care. Analysis of geographic referral data informs outreach and community sensitization initiatives, concentrating on regions of low referral. The use of mobile phone technology to transfer funds represents an innovative means of overcoming a major barrier to healthcare access for patients in low-income countries.

Item Type:	Article
Date Type:	Publication
Status:	Published
Schools:	Medicine
Subjects:	R Medicine > R Medicine (General) R Medicine > RZ Other systems of medicine
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Cellular Phone;Costs and Cost Analysis;Female;Health Promotion;Health Services Accessibility;Humans;Referral and Consultation;Tanzania;Transportation of Patients;Vaginal Fistula article;calculation;cystovaginal fistula;female; geography;health care access;health care cost;help seeking behavior;human;lowest income group;major clinical study;mobile phone;patient referral;patient transport;priority journal;Tanzania
Additional Information:	Author keywords Barriers to treatment; M-health; Mobile phone technology; Obstetric fistula; Transport; Vesicovaginal fistula
Publisher:	Elsevier
ISSN:	0020-7292
Date of Acceptance:	23 November 2012
Last Modified:	16 Apr 2020 01:23
URI:	https://orca.cardiff.ac.uk/id/eprint/74924

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