National HIV Prevention Conference Atlanta, Georgia, USA — July 27 - 30, 2003

Natl HIV Prev Conf 2003 July 27-30:abstract no. M1-E0602
Holmes MC, Wang LY, Banspach SW, Jemmott JB III; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES:: A trial study of the Be Proud! Be Responsible!, a human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) prevention program for adolescents, demonstrated a significant decrease in risky behavior among the intervention group relative to the control group. Though the program's primary objective was preventing HIV, it can also prevent other sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) and unintended pregnancies. This study will estimate not only HIV costs averted, but also other STDs and unintended pregnancy costs averted due to the prevention program.

METHODS: The Bernoulli model for sexual disease transmission was used to translate changes in risky sexual behavior into estimated cases of HIV, chlamydia, and gonorrhea infections averted. Averted cases of chlamydia and gonorrhea were further translated into estimated averted cases of pelvic inflammatory disease (PID). A previously published mathematical model was used to estimate averted cases of unintended pregnancies. Estimated cases averted were translated into medical and social costs averted. Behavioral changes were assumed to last for a year. This study uses the societal perspective. A discount rate of 5% was used for averted costs and all costs are in 2000 US dollars. Program costs were compared with costs averted to estimate the benefit-cost ratio and net savings.

RESULTS: Using base-case assumptions, an estimated 0.006 cases of HIV, 7.44 cases of chlamydia, 3.06 cases of gonorrhea, 2.33 cases of PID and 5.17 unintended pregnancies were averted. Preliminary results show that for every dollar invested in this program, $8.50 was saved. Net savings to society as a result of the program is $62,908.32.

CONCLUSIONS: We found that the economic benefits of a HIV prevention program increase substantially when costs of other STDs and unintended pregnancies are considered. The preliminary findings of this study suggest that implementing community-based HIV prevention programs among high-risk youths can be cost saving and warrant careful consideration by policy makers and program planners.

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M1-E0602

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