Impact of unintentional injuries in 5-19-year-olds in Andhra Pradesh: addressing out-of-pocket expenses and catastrophic health expenditure

Background: Children are considered the greatest asset in a married couple’s life. If premature death/deformity occurs in those children, it is not only traumatic for the family but also results in the loss of productive man-years, which in turn influences the economic development of the country. In the present context, this study was intended to examine the impact of unintentional injuries (UIIs) in 5-19-year-olds in Andhra Pradesh (AP) and to address out-of-pocket expenses (OOPE) and catastrophic health expenditure (CHE). Methods: Applied self-designed, pre-tested formats and collected data regarding the causes and consequences of UIIs in 5-19-year-olds from 2017 to 2021 under the Right to Information Act 2005, from government hospitals and the police department across the state. Furthermore, NCRB reports were used to collect deaths due to UII via the internet. Results: Between 2017 and 2021, among 5-19-year-olds admitted to government hospitals (16,304) due to UIIs, an average of 290 disabilities and 1,100 fatalities (police records) occurred. According to the study, UIIs cost the injured children and their families INR 142,97,79,280 annually, as well as many students’ school days and their families’ working days. The study projected that the annual premium for students who are enrolled in government and aided schools in 1st-12th classes (37,45,208) across the AP state is INR 11,23,56,240. Conclusions: If UIIs resulted in the children’s injuries, disabilities, or deaths, the family’s grief is immeasurable. Therefore, governments should be held accountable for protecting children from these injuries and ensuring the fiscal growth of their families and the country.