Comparison of the costs of HPV testing through community health campaigns versus home-based testing in rural Western Kenya: a microcosting study

Objectives To estimate the cost of human papillomavirus (HPV)-based screening through community health campaigns (CHCs) and home-based testing. Setting CHCs and home-based testing in six communities in rural Western Kenya. Participants CHCs and home-based screening reached 2297 and 1002 women aged 25-65 years, respectively. Outcome measures Outcome measures were overall cost per woman screened achieved through the CHCs and home-based testing and the cost per woman for each activity comprising the screening intervention. Results The mean cost per woman screened through CHCs and home-based testing were similar, at $37.7 (range $26.4-$52.0) and $37.1 (range $27.6-$54.0), respectively. For CHCs, personnel represented 49% of overall cost, supplies 25%, services 5% and capital goods 23%. For home-based testing, these were: personnel 73%, supplies 25%, services 1% and capital goods 2%. A greater number of participants was associated with a lower cost per participant. Conclusions The mean cost per woman screened is comparable for CHC and home-based testing, with differences in type of input. The CHCs generally reached more eligible women in the six communities, whereas home-based strategies more efficiently reached populations with low screening rates.