OBJECTIVE: To assess the cost-effectiveness of an ambulance service within a comprehensive hospital/community-based program aimed at improving access and quality of reproductive health in poor-resources settings. METHODS: Obstetrical cases referred to the hospital with the ambulance during a 3-month period were prospectively recorded. Clinical indications were used to determine the effectiveness of the referral; the direct costs of the service were calculated. Overall effectiveness was then measured against WHO thresholds. RESULTS: Ninety-two obstetrical referrals were recorded. Eleven (12%) were considered effective, corresponding to 611.7 years saved. Cost per year saved was 15.82 US dollars which about half of WHO's 30 US dollar benchmark defining very attractive interventions. Sensitivity analyses on the costs of the ambulance and the rate of effective referrals emphasized the robustness of the result. CONCLUSIONS: The cost-effectiveness profile of an ambulance service within a series of interventions aimed at improving reproductive health in remote settings is very attractive.
OBJECTIVE: To assess the cost-effectiveness of an ambulance service within a comprehensive hospital/community-based program aimed at improving access and quality of reproductive health in poor-resources settings. METHODS: Obstetrical cases referred to the hospital with the ambulance during a 3-month period were prospectively recorded. Clinical indications were used to determine the effectiveness of the referral; the direct costs of the service were calculated. Overall effectiveness was then measured against WHO thresholds. RESULTS: Ninety-two obstetrical referrals were recorded. Eleven (12%) were considered effective, corresponding to 611.7 years saved. Cost per year saved was 15.82 US dollars which about half of WHO's 30 US dollar benchmark defining very attractive interventions. Sensitivity analyses on the costs of the ambulance and the rate of effective referrals emphasized the robustness of the result. CONCLUSIONS: The cost-effectiveness profile of an ambulance service within a series of interventions aimed at improving reproductive health in remote settings is very attractive.
Authors: William Massavon; Calistus Wilunda; Maria Nannini; Robert Kaos Majwala; Caroline Agaro; Emanuela De Vivo; Peter Lochoro; Giovanni Putoto; Bart Criel Journal: BMC Pregnancy Childbirth Date: 2017-12-19 Impact factor: 3.007
Authors: Kalin Werner; Nicholas Risko; Taylor Burkholder; Kenneth Munge; Lee Wallis; Teri Reynolds Journal: Bull World Health Organ Date: 2020-02-25 Impact factor: 9.408