Cost-benefit analysis of a PMTCT program in Mozambique

The costs and benefits of a HlV/AIDS PMTCT program in a Mozambican city were calculated. The provision and non-provision of infant feeding formula were considered, along with voluntary counselling and testing, and anti-retroviral treatment with Nevirapine. Costs were calculated in monetary units and benefits as deaths averted and disability-adjusted life years. The UNAIDS cost-effectiveness tool for evaluating ARV drug and substitute feeding intervention was used. The costs of the program were compared with the costs of treating HIV-infected children. With no infant feeding formula, there would be a total savings of US$5242 and a negative cost per DALY of US$1.53 without infant feeding formula, With formula, net annual costs would be US$141,268 and cost per DALY US$38.69. Citywide, each year 132 infant deaths would be averted by use of Nevirapine and eight averted by the breastmilk replacement program. All program optins have reasonable cost-effectiveness ratios. (C) 2002 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.