Anke Richter1, Brett Loomis. 1. Defense Resource Management Institute, Naval Postgraduate School, 1522 Cunningham Rd, Code 64Rt, Monterey, CA 93943, USA. arichter@nps.navy.mil
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: A community-based intervention program found that the high-risk target population interacts with its surrounding community as a source of drugs and prostitution, creating a measure of co-dependence in the health status of each group. METHODOLOGY: The intervention collected extensive data on sexual and drug use practices in the target population. A dynamic compartment model estimates the epidemiological impact of the intervention, which serves as the basis for the economic assessment comparing intervention costs and lifetime HIV treatment costs. RESULTS: Approximately 2/3 of the new infections arise in the surrounding community. Intervention spillover benefits in the surrounding community are sufficient to make the intervention cost-saving in the first year--a savings of approximately 534,000 dollars. CONCLUSIONS: Conducting the intervention results in health benefits and cost-savings not only for the risk group, but for the entire community in which it resides. Quantifying the spillovers is vital to policymakers attempting to allocate scarce public health resources.
INTRODUCTION: A community-based intervention program found that the high-risk target population interacts with its surrounding community as a source of drugs and prostitution, creating a measure of co-dependence in the health status of each group. METHODOLOGY: The intervention collected extensive data on sexual and drug use practices in the target population. A dynamic compartment model estimates the epidemiological impact of the intervention, which serves as the basis for the economic assessment comparing intervention costs and lifetime HIV treatment costs. RESULTS: Approximately 2/3 of the new infections arise in the surrounding community. Intervention spillover benefits in the surrounding community are sufficient to make the intervention cost-saving in the first year--a savings of approximately 534,000 dollars. CONCLUSIONS: Conducting the intervention results in health benefits and cost-savings not only for the risk group, but for the entire community in which it resides. Quantifying the spillovers is vital to policymakers attempting to allocate scarce public health resources.
Authors: S R Friedman; A Neaigus; B Jose; R Curtis; M Goldstein; G Ildefonso; R B Rothenberg; D C Des Jarlais Journal: Am J Public Health Date: 1997-08 Impact factor: 9.308
Authors: Mark Roberts; Louise B Russell; A David Paltiel; Michael Chambers; Phil McEwan; Murray Krahn Journal: Value Health Date: 2012 Sep-Oct Impact factor: 5.725