Cost analysis of planned out-of-hospital births in Italy

Roberta Vittoria Cicero; Sofia Colaceci; Rosanna Amata; Federico Spandonaro

doi:10.23750/abm.v93i4.12923

Cost analysis of planned out-of-hospital births in Italy

Authors

Roberta Vittoria Cicero 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
Sofia Colaceci Departmental faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Saint Camillus International University of Rome and Medical Sciences (UniCamillus), Rome, Italy
Rosanna Amata Department of Economics and Business, University of Catania, Catania, Italy
Federico Spandonaro University San Raffaele - CREA Sanità, Rome, Italy

DOI: https://doi.org/10.23750/abm.v93i4.12923

Keywords:

Birth Setting, Birthing Centers, Costs and Cost Analysis, Midwifery

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.

Author Biography

Sofia Colaceci, Departmental faculty of Medicine and Surgery, Saint Camillus International University of Rome and Medical Sciences (UniCamillus), Rome, Italy

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