The Socio-Demographic Impact and Economic Burden of Treatment in Routine Abdominal Hysterectomy in Bangladesh

Abstract

Background: Abdominal hysterectomy is one of the most commonly performed surgeries in gynecology, yet its socio-demographic and economic implications remain underexplored, particularly in low-resource settings like Bangladesh. This study aims to assess the socio-demographic characteristics of patients undergoing abdominal hysterectomy and the economic burden associated with their treatment.
Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted at Chittagong Medical College Hospital, Bangladesh, with 88 patients undergoing routine abdominal hysterectomy. Data was collected regarding socio-demographic characteristics (age, education, family income), clinical profiles, and treatment costs, including hospital stay duration.
Results: The majority of patients (48.9%) were between 46-55 years old, with most (56.8%) having primary-level education. A significant portion (85.2%) of the patients came from lower-middle-income families, reflecting the socio-economic background of the study population. In terms of clinical profiles, most patients (94.3%) were premenopausal, with fibro-adenomyosis (31.1%) and fibroid uterus (28.4%) being the most common indications for surgery. Regarding post-operative complications, febrile morbidity (54.3%) was the most frequently observed, while the need for further treatment was required in 18.2% of patients. The average hospital stay for most patients (86.4%) was between 5-10 days, with an overall average of 7.47 ± 5.469 days. The cost of treatment was significantly influenced by antibiotic use, with the average cost for medication per patient in the study being Tk. 1867.5± 675, with antibiotic expenses accounting for a major portion. Some patients faced a much higher treatment cost due to prolonged hospital stays and extended antibiotic use.
Conclusion: This study underscores the significant socio-demographic and economic burden of abdominal hysterectomy in Bangladesh. Most patients are from low-income backgrounds with limited education, highlighting the vulnerability of this group to the financial strain of medical treatment. The costs associated with hospital stays and medication use further exacerbate this burden, emphasizing the need for more cost-effective healthcare practices in low-resource settings to alleviate financial pressures on patients.

J Shaheed Suhrawardy Med Coll 2025; 17(1): 21-25