AEGiS-14IAC: HIV/AIDS in resource poor environments.

14th International AIDS Conference

Barcelona, Spain - July 7-12, 2002

HIV/AIDS in resource poor environments.

Int Conf AIDS 2002 Jul 7-12; 14:(abstract no. G12508)

Otieno NO, Wuor MA, Aduwa PA, Dimba RO
TAPWAK, Nairobi, Kenya

ISSUE: To determine the cost effectiveness of various HIV intervention strategies in resource poor environments.

DESCRIPTION: Four different intervention strategies for HIV infection were examined: cost effectiveness of (i) a voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) program; (ii) a prevention program for mother -to child transmission (MTCT) ;(iii) a HIV/STD management and control program; and (iv) a treatment program using antiretroviral (ARV) therapy for HIV positive patients. These strategies vary in coverage, type of interventions, and targeted population. The costs of the strategies are collected from the existing studies on HIV/STD prevention programs, MTCT program and the ARV treatment programs for HIV/AIDS patients in African countries. The effectiveness of each program is converted to a life -year gained. The results of the cost effectiveness are presented as a cost per HIV infection prevented and cost per life-year gained. Saving due to averted treatment costs are not included in the estimate of the analysis. LESSONS LEARNT: Providing a RN/STD management and control program is the most cost effective for resource scare and high-prevalence countries among the strategies examined in this study. A treatment program using ARV therapy for HIV positive patients is identified as the least cost effective strategy for saving potential life years. Among the HIV prevention strategies, cost of a HIV/STD management program and voluntary counseling and testing (VCT) program are far below the costs of strategies using ARV therapy in order to save potential life years. RECOMMENDATION: Results of the study suggest that a HIV/STD control strategy should get higher priority than other interventions-especially ones using ARV therapy -in order for poor countries to maximize the scarce resources available for AIDS prevention and control. Cost effectiveness of the HIV/STD control strategy would be even greater for countries where the sexual intercourse is the most prevalent transmission mode and young adults are the most risky group for the new infection.

Keywords: AEGIS, Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome, HIV Infections, Health Resources, HIV Seropositivity, Cost-Benefit Analysis, Counseling, Adult, Child, Human, economics

020707
G12508