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Implementation and Cost Analysis of a Novel Silicosis Case-Finding Program For Mine Workers in Rural Rwanda

2024; Johns Hopkins University Press; Volume: 12; Issue: 2 Linguagem: Inglês

10.9745/ghsp-d-23-00290

2169-575X

Robert Tumusime, Michael S. Miller, Anne Niyigena, Symaque Dusabeyezu, PIERROT CONSTANCE UWITONZE, Emmanuel Harerimana, Grace Umugiraneza, Wellars Dusingizimana, Samuel Hatfield, Stella Savarimuthu, Juliana Lawrence, PACIFIQUE HAGENIMANA, Jean Marie Vianney Ngenzi, Aristarque Murara, Phoebe Mwiseneza, Paul D. Sonenthal, Vincent Kalumire Cubaka, Fredrick Kateera, Innocent Kamali,

Interstitial Lung Diseases and Idiopathic Pulmonary Fibrosis

Little is known about the burden of silicosis in Africa, despite extensive mining and construction operations in the region putting numerous people at risk. The implementation experience and costs of case-finding for occupational lung disease in resource-limited settings are also currently unknown. We describe the first-ever silicosis case-finding project in rural Rwanda using chest X-ray, symptom questionnaires, and spirometry. This was coupled with routine noncommunicable disease case-finding for diabetes and hypertension. We performed an ingredient-based analysis of the costs of all case-finding activities. In 2022, over 25 days, 1,032 mine workers were included in the program, of which 1,014 (98.3%) completed silicosis case-finding activities. The total cost of the program was estimated to be US$38,656, representing a cost of US$37.49 per person. We conclude that conducting large-scale occupational lung disease case-finding is clinically and economically feasible in resource-limited settings and can be effectively integrated with routine noncommunicable disease case-finding.