Impact of m-health on adherence and cost to the treatment for Type 2 Diabetes in Bangladesh

Principal investigator: Farzana Yasmin, doctoral student

Supervision: Rainer Sauerborn, Ali Liaquat, Aurélia Souares

Partners:
Diabetic Association of Bangladesh (BIRDEM-DAB)
                Telemedicine Reference Center Ltd. (TRCL), Dhaka, Bangladesh
                Bangladesh Institute of Health Sciences, Dhaka, Bangladesh

Project description:
The burden of chronic non-communicable diseases (NCDs), especially diabetes, is rising in low and middle-income countries like Bangladesh. NCDs have emerged as a serious challenge, both for economic development and attainment of the Millennium Development Goals (MDGs), as well as causing and accelerating poverty, curbing productivity, and enhancing healthcare costs.

The estimated prevalence of diabetes for 2010 worldwide is 285 million people, corresponding to 6.4% of the adult population worldwide. By 2030, the number of people with diabetes is estimated to be 438 million, corresponding to 7.8% of the adult population worldwide. 70% of the current cases of diabetes occur in low- and middle income countries. The prevalence of diabetes in Bangladesh is estimated at 5.2% among the adult population. It is estimated that almost 3 million people have diabetes in Bangladesh. In developing countries like Bangladesh, less than half of people with diabetes are un-diagnosed. Without timely diagnoses and adequate treatment, complications and morbidity from diabetes rise exponentially.

The financial burden borne by people with diabetes and their families, as a result of their disease, depends on their economic status and the social insurance policies of their countries. In addition to excess healthcare expenditure, diabetes also imposes large economic burdens in the form of lost productivity and foregone economic growth.

The purpose of the research is to find out whether m-health increases patient adherence, early diagnosis and management of the complications of type 2 Diabetes and, therefore, allows cost effective management of type 2 diabetes. The case control study design will be performed using both quantitative and qualitative methods.

Contact:
Farzana Yasmin (farzana@stud.uni-heidelberg.de)
Aurélia Souares (souares@uni-heidelberg.de)