The cost effectiveness of the Philani Nutrition Day Centre in Crossroads squatter camp, Cape Town.

One hundred and seventeen children aged 0-7 years who had been treated at Philani Nutrition Day Centre were sought in Crossroads squatter camp near Cape Town after discharge; 61 were traced and complete records were obtained for 42. Twenty-seven (64,2%) of the 42 were below the third percentile (weight for age, National Center for Health Statistics standards) at the time of admission to the centre and 3 (7,1%) were still below it at discharge 1-26 (mean 7,8) months later. Six (14,3%) were below the third percentile when they were traced 1-23 months (mean 10,3 months) later. Total attendances from 1982 to 1983 were estimated at 12 300 child-days. Expenditure on the centre for this period was estimated at R29 759, of which R20 282 (68,2%) was spent on salaries, R6 340 (21,3%) on food and R3 137 (10,5%) on sundries (including R2 500 on drugs). The estimated cost per child per day's attendance was R2,42. The duration of treatment was estimated to be 80 attendances for a severe and 32 attendances for a moderate case of undernutrition, giving an estimated cost of between R194 and R73 per child for complete treatment. We conclude that this expenditure: (i) benefited most of the children who were originally below the third percentile; (ii) sustained children not actually admitted to the centre by feeding them or their siblings, probably resulting in there being more food available at home; and (iii) prevented the (costly) admission to hospital of some children.