Comparative Cost-Effectiveness of Typhoid Vaccination and Treatment in Rural vs. Urban Ugandan Healthcare Settings

Ivan Mutebi

Department of Pharmacognosy Kampala International University Uganda

Email: ivan.mutebi@studwc.kiu.ac.ug

ABSTRACT

Typhoid fever remains a major public health challenge in Uganda, particularly in communities where sanitation, water quality, and healthcare access are inadequate. Despite the availability of effective vaccines and antibiotics, disparities in healthcare infrastructure and resource allocation between rural and urban areas continue to influence disease outcomes and economic burdens. This review examines the comparative cost-effectiveness of typhoid vaccination versus treatment in rural and urban Ugandan healthcare settings. It explores the economic implications of preventive immunization programs relative to the costs associated with diagnosis, hospitalization, and antimicrobial therapy. The review highlights how variations in healthcare infrastructure, disease burden, and access to vaccination services affect overall cost-efficiency. Findings suggest that vaccination is a more cost-effective and sustainable intervention, especially in rural areas with limited access to timely treatment. Policy recommendations emphasize integrating typhoid vaccination into Uganda’s Expanded Programme on Immunization (EPI) and strengthening health systems to reduce disease incidence and associated economic losses.

Keywords: Typhoid fever, cost-effectiveness, vaccination, treatment, rural health, urban health, Uganda.

CITE AS: Ivan Mutebi (2026). Comparative Cost-Effectiveness of Typhoid Vaccination and Treatment in Rural vs. Urban Ugandan Healthcare Settings. IAA Journal of Applied Sciences 14(1):105-109. https://doi.org/10.59298/IAAJAS/2026/141105109