Informal care time and costs of dementia care in Benin (West Africa).

BACKGROUND: Dementia is a growing global health challenge, with significant socioeconomic implications. This study examined the informal care duration and related costs along with the total cost of care for older individuals with dementia in Benin, West Africa, providing insights into a region with limited dementia research.

METHODS: We conducted a cost-of-illness study in Benin. Both hospital and community recruitments were used to enroll adults aged ≥ 60 years and their primary caregivers. Structured questionnaire and validated tools were used to collect the demographic, clinical, healthcare resource utilization data as well as informal care duration. Replacement costs approach was performed to valuate informal care time. Official exchange rates from the World Bank were used to convert costs from local currency to purchasing power parities dollars (PPP$).

RESULTS: Data from 135 individuals with varying dementia stages revealed that dementia places substantial caregiving demands, predominantly on women who provide up to eight hours of daily care. In 2021, the mean annual cost of dementia care was estimated to be PPP$2,399.66 ± 2,057.07. Informal care represented a significant portion of dementia expenses, up to 92% of the total care costs in this study.

DISCUSSION: Policy interventions are urgently needed to address the dementia-care challenges in Benin, especially because economic transitions and educational advancements may reduce the availability of informal caregivers. This emphasizes the vital role of informal caregivers and underscores the need of implementing dementia policies to support families facing the evolving challenges of dementia care.