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The Cost and Cost-Effectiveness of Scaling up Screening and Treatment of Syphilis in Pregnancy: A Model

Author

Listed:
  • James G Kahn
  • Aliya Jiwani
  • Gabriela B Gomez
  • Sarah J Hawkes
  • Harrell W Chesson
  • Nathalie Broutet
  • Mary L Kamb
  • Lori M Newman

Abstract

Background: Syphilis in pregnancy imposes a significant global health and economic burden. More than half of cases result in serious adverse events, including infant mortality and infection. The annual global burden from mother-to-child transmission (MTCT) of syphilis is estimated at 3.6 million disability-adjusted life years (DALYs) and $309 million in medical costs. Syphilis screening and treatment is simple, effective, and affordable, yet, worldwide, most pregnant women do not receive these services. We assessed cost-effectiveness of scaling-up syphilis screening and treatment in existing antenatal care (ANC) programs in various programmatic, epidemiologic, and economic contexts. Methods and Findings: We modeled the cost, health impact, and cost-effectiveness of expanded syphilis screening and treatment in ANC, compared to current services, for 1,000,000 pregnancies per year over four years. We defined eight generic country scenarios by systematically varying three factors: current maternal syphilis testing and treatment coverage, syphilis prevalence in pregnant women, and the cost of healthcare. We calculated program and net costs, DALYs averted, and net costs per DALY averted over four years in each scenario. Program costs are estimated at $4,142,287 – $8,235,796 per million pregnant women (2010 USD). Net costs, adjusted for averted medical care and current services, range from net savings of $12,261,250 to net costs of $1,736,807. The program averts an estimated 5,754 – 93,484 DALYs, yielding net savings in four scenarios, and a cost per DALY averted of $24 – $111 in the four scenarios with net costs. Results were robust in sensitivity analyses. Conclusions: Eliminating MTCT of syphilis through expanded screening and treatment in ANC is likely to be highly cost-effective by WHO-defined thresholds in a wide range of settings. Countries with high prevalence, low current service coverage, and high healthcare cost would benefit most. Future analyses can be tailored to countries using local epidemiologic and programmatic data.

Suggested Citation

  • James G Kahn & Aliya Jiwani & Gabriela B Gomez & Sarah J Hawkes & Harrell W Chesson & Nathalie Broutet & Mary L Kamb & Lori M Newman, 2014. "The Cost and Cost-Effectiveness of Scaling up Screening and Treatment of Syphilis in Pregnancy: A Model," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 9(1), pages 1-10, January.
    • Handle: RePEc:plo:pone00:0087510
    DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0087510
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Elliot Marseille & James Kahn & Christian Pitter & Rebecca Bunnell & William Epalatai & Emmanuel Jawe & Willy Were & Jonathan Mermin, 2009. "The cost effectiveness of home-based provision of antiretroviral therapy in rural Uganda," Applied Health Economics and Health Policy, Springer, vol. 7(4), pages 229-243, December.
    2. repec:wbk:wbpubs:7039 is not listed on IDEAS
    3. Bruce R Schackman & Christopher P Neukermans & Sandy N Nerette Fontain & Claudine Nolte & Patrice Joseph & Jean W Pape & Daniel W Fitzgerald, 2007. "Cost-Effectiveness of Rapid Syphilis Screening in Prenatal HIV Testing Programs in Haiti," PLOS Medicine, Public Library of Science, vol. 4(5), pages 1-11, May.
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