The monetary value of human lives lost through Ebola virus disease in the Democratic Republic of Congo in 2019
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Date
Authors
Kirigia, Joses M.
Muthuri, Rose Nabi Deborah Karimi
Muthuri, Newton Gitonga
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
BioMed Central
Abstract
BACKGROUND : Between 8 May 2018 and 27 May 2019, cumulatively there were 1286 deaths from Ebola Virus Disease
(EVD) in the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC). The objective of this study was to estimate the monetary value of
human lives lost through EVD in DRC.
METHODS : Human capital approach was applied to monetarily value years of life lost due to premature deaths from EVD.
The future losses were discounted to their present values at 3% discount rate. The model was reanalysed using 5 and
10% discount rates. The analysis was done alternately using the average life expectancies for DRC, the world, and the
Japanese females to assess the effect on the monetary value of years of life lost (MVYLL).
RESULTS : The 1286 deaths resulted in a total MVYLL of Int$17,761,539 assuming 3% discount rate and DRC life expectancy
of 60.5 years. The average monetary value per EVD death was of Int$13,801. About 44.7 and 48.6% of the total MVYLL was
borne by children aged below 9 years and adults aged between 15 years and 59 years, respectively.
Re-estimation of the algorithm with average life expectancies of the world (both sexes) and Japanese females,
holding discount rate constant at 3%, increased theMVYLL by Int$ 3,667,085 (20.6%) and Int$ 7,508,498 (42.3%), respectively.
The application of discount rates of 5 and 10%, holding life expectancy constant at 60.5 years, reduced the MVYLL by Int$ 4,
252,785 (− 23.9%) and Int$ 9,658,195 (− 54.4%) respectively.
CONCLUSION : The EVD outbreak in DRC led to a considerable MVYLL. There is an urgent need for DRC government
and development partners to disburse adequate resources to strengthen the national health system and other systems
that address social determinants of health to end recurrence of EVD outbreaks.
Description
Additional file 1: Epidemiological situation of Ebola Virus Disease in
DRC as at 27 May 2019.
Additional file 2: Equations used to estimate the DRC’s discounted total non-health GDP loss attributable to EVD deaths (MVYLLDRC).
Additional file 3: Age distribution of EVD deaths in DRC.
Additional file 4 Undiscounted potential years of life lost from EVD assuming DRC life expectancy.
Additional file 5: Undiscounted potential years of life lost from EVD assuming world’s and Japanese Female life expectancies.
Additional file 6: Discounted potential years of life lost from EVD assuming DRC life expectancy and 3% discount rate.
Additional file 7: Discounted potential years of life lost from EVD assuming world’s and Japan Female life expectancies and a 3% discount rate.
Additional file 8: Discounted potential years of life lost from EVD assuming the DRC, the world and Japanese female life expectancies and a 5% discount rate.
Additional file 9: Discounted potential years of life lost from EVD assuming the DRC, the World and the Japan female life expectancies and a 10% discount rate.
Additional file 2: Equations used to estimate the DRC’s discounted total non-health GDP loss attributable to EVD deaths (MVYLLDRC).
Additional file 3: Age distribution of EVD deaths in DRC.
Additional file 4 Undiscounted potential years of life lost from EVD assuming DRC life expectancy.
Additional file 5: Undiscounted potential years of life lost from EVD assuming world’s and Japanese Female life expectancies.
Additional file 6: Discounted potential years of life lost from EVD assuming DRC life expectancy and 3% discount rate.
Additional file 7: Discounted potential years of life lost from EVD assuming world’s and Japan Female life expectancies and a 3% discount rate.
Additional file 8: Discounted potential years of life lost from EVD assuming the DRC, the world and Japanese female life expectancies and a 5% discount rate.
Additional file 9: Discounted potential years of life lost from EVD assuming the DRC, the World and the Japan female life expectancies and a 10% discount rate.
Keywords
Human capital, Monetary value of life, Years of life lost, Gross domestic product, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), Ebola virus disease (EVD), Deaths, Monetary value of years of life lost (MVYLL)
Sustainable Development Goals
Citation
Kirigia, J.M., Muthuri, R.N.D.K. & Muthuri, N.G. 2019, 'The monetary value of human lives lost
through Ebola virus disease in the
Democratic Republic of Congo in 2019', BMC Public Health, vol. 19, art. 1218, pp. 1-9.