Understanding patient-level costs of weekly isoniazid-rifapentine (3HP) among people living with HIV in Uganda.

BACKGROUND

Twelve weeks of weekly isoniazid and rifapentine (3HP) prevents TB disease among people with HIV (PWH), but the costs to people of taking TB preventive treatment is not well described.

METHODS

We surveyed PWH who initiated 3HP at a large urban HIV/AIDS clinic in Kampala, Uganda, as part of a larger trial. We estimated the cost of one 3HP visit from the patient perspective, including both out-of-pocket costs and estimated lost wages. Costs were reported in 2021 Ugandan shillings (UGX) and US dollars (USD; USD1 = UGX3,587)

RESULTS

The survey included 1,655 PWH. The median participant cost of one clinic visit was UGX19,200 (USD5.36), or 38.5% of the median weekly income. Per visit, the cost of transportation was the largest component (median: UGX10,000/USD2.79), followed by lost income (median: UGX4,200/USD1.16) and food (median: UGX2,000/USD0.56). Men reported greater income loss than women (median: UGX6,400/USD1.79 vs. UGX3,300/USD0.93), and participants who lived further than a 30-minute drive to the clinic had higher transportation costs than others (median: UGX14,000/USD3.90 vs. UGX8,000/USD2.23).

CONCLUSION

Patient-level costs to receive 3HP accounted for over one-third of weekly income. Patient-centered approaches to averting or defraying these costs are needed.