A Comparative Study Of The Cost Of Complementary/Alternative Medicine (Cam) And Conventional Treatment Of Hypertension At The Ledzokuku Krowor Municipal Assembly (Lekma) Hospital, Accra.

ABSTRACT Introduction Hypertension, also known as high blood pressure, has been a financial and health burden to households on a global scale. The disease has been on an exponential increase since the onset of modernization. This study sought to compare the cost of hypertension treatment using Complementary and Alternative Medicines against Conventional Medicines among hypertensive patients attending the Ledzokukukrowor (LEKMA) Hospital in Accra. Methods This was a cross sectional cost-of-illness study. Quantitative data on cost was collected in June 2017 from 85 hypertensive participants who attended the LEKMA Hospital using a structured questionnaire. Total direct cost was estimated by summing direct medical and nonmedical cost the patients have incurred over the past month due to hypertension. Total indirect cost was estimated using the Human Capital Approach. Collected data was entered into SPSS 20, and analysed using SPSS 20 and Microsoft Excel Version 13. In order to determine the strength of the cost estimates, sensitivity analysis was done. Results The total cost of treatment were estimated to be GHS 2,650.77 for CAM and GHS 26,260.52 for Conventional Medicines. Total direct cost for both methods were found to be over 90% of the total costs, with the cost of laboratory treatment being the most expensive subcategory in the total direct cost section. The mean of the total costs of treating hypertension with CAM and Conventional medicines were GHS 265.08 (95% CI: 185.16- 336.00) and GHS 350.14 (95% CI: 0-776.59) respectively, suggesting that it is relatively less expensive treating hypertension using CAM. The respective mean of total direct cost v for CAM and Conventional treatment were GHS 251.30 (172.45-330.15) and 316.89 (0- 717.33); whereas the averages indirect costs for the two treatments were GHS 13.77 (95% CI: 0-28.41) and GHS 33.25 (95% CI: 0-101.01) respectively. The total cost of treatment were estimated to be GHS 2,650.77 for CAM and GHS 26,260.52 for Conventional Medicines. Conclusion Upon analysing the total cost estimate for both methods of treatment, it was found that the total cost of treating hypertension was less expensive with CAM as compared to Conventional Medicines treatment.