Roberta Vittoria Cicero1, Sofia Colaceci2, Rosanna Amata3, Federico Spandonaro4. 1. Department of Biomedicine and Prevention, University of Rome Tor Vergata, Rome, Italy - Departmental faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Saint Camillus International University of Rome and Medical Sciences (UniCamillus), Rome, Italy. roberta.cicero@hotmail.it. 2. Departmental faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Saint Camillus International University of Rome and Medical Sciences (UniCamillus), Rome, Italy. sofia.colaceci@unicamillus.org. 3. Department of Economics and Business, University of Catania, Catania, Italy. rosanna.amata@gmail.com. 4. University San Raffaele - CREA Sanità, Rome, Italy. f.spandonaro@creasanita.it.
Abstract
BACKGROUND AND AIM: In Italy, the main birthplace is a hospital, and only a few women choose an out-of-hospital setting. This study assessed the costs related to delivery in different birthplaces in Italy. METHODS: The cost analysis considered direct and amortizable costs associated with mother-child care in physiological conditions. An analysis of the hospital births considered the Diagnoses-Related Groups 373 and 391. To estimate the cost of the births assisted privately by freelance midwives, an evaluation based on an experts' opinion was carried out. RESULTS: Childbirth hospital care in Italy amounts to € 1832.00, and birth in an out-of-hospital setting accredited with the National Health System has a full cost of € 1345.19 in the 'maternity home' and € 909.60 at home. The average cost of the birth in 'private maternity homes' amounted to € 3260.00, while at-home births amounted to € 2910.00. CONCLUSIONS: Any accreditation of out-of-hospital settings by the NHS would considerably reduce the waste of economic resources compared to hospital childbirth.
BACKGROUND AND AIM: In Italy, the main birthplace is a hospital, and only a few women choose an out-of-hospital setting. This study assessed the costs related to delivery in different birthplaces in Italy. METHODS: The cost analysis considered direct and amortizable costs associated with mother-child care in physiological conditions. An analysis of the hospital births considered the Diagnoses-Related Groups 373 and 391. To estimate the cost of the births assisted privately by freelance midwives, an evaluation based on an experts' opinion was carried out. RESULTS: Childbirth hospital care in Italy amounts to € 1832.00, and birth in an out-of-hospital setting accredited with the National Health System has a full cost of € 1345.19 in the 'maternity home' and € 909.60 at home. The average cost of the birth in 'private maternity homes' amounted to € 3260.00, while at-home births amounted to € 2910.00. CONCLUSIONS: Any accreditation of out-of-hospital settings by the NHS would considerably reduce the waste of economic resources compared to hospital childbirth.
Authors: Achille Cernigliaro; Sara Palmeri; Alessandra Casuccio; Salvatore Scondotto; Vincenzo Restivo Journal: Int J Environ Res Public Health Date: 2019-09-20 Impact factor: 3.390