Cost estimation alongside a multi-regional, multi-country randomized trial of antenatal ultrasound in five low-and-middle-income countries
Abstract Background Improving maternal health has been a primary goal of international health agencies for many years, with the aim of reducing maternal and child deaths and improving access to antenatal care (ANC) services, particularly in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs). Health interventio...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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BMC
2021-05-01
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| Series: | BMC Public Health |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10750-8 |
| _version_ | 1819137706036297728 |
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| author | B. W. Bresnahan E. Vodicka J. B. Babigumira A. M. Malik F. Yego A. Lokangaka B. M. Chitah Z. Bauer H. Chavez J. L. Moore L. P. Garrison J. O. Swanson D. Swanson E. M. McClure R. L. Goldenberg F. Esamai A. L. Garces E. Chomba S. Saleem A. Tshefu C. L. Bose M. Bauserman W. Carlo S. Bucher E. A. Liechty R. O. Nathan |
| author_facet | B. W. Bresnahan E. Vodicka J. B. Babigumira A. M. Malik F. Yego A. Lokangaka B. M. Chitah Z. Bauer H. Chavez J. L. Moore L. P. Garrison J. O. Swanson D. Swanson E. M. McClure R. L. Goldenberg F. Esamai A. L. Garces E. Chomba S. Saleem A. Tshefu C. L. Bose M. Bauserman W. Carlo S. Bucher E. A. Liechty R. O. Nathan |
| author_sort | B. W. Bresnahan |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract Background Improving maternal health has been a primary goal of international health agencies for many years, with the aim of reducing maternal and child deaths and improving access to antenatal care (ANC) services, particularly in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs). Health interventions with these aims have received more attention from a clinical effectiveness perspective than for cost impact and economic efficiency. Methods We collected data on resource use and costs as part of a large, multi-country study assessing the use of routine antenatal screening ultrasound (US) with the aim of considering the implications for economic efficiency. We assessed typical antenatal outpatient and hospital-based (facility) care for pregnant women, in general, with selective complication-related data collection in women participating in a large maternal health registry and clinical trial in five LMICs. We estimated average costs from a facility/health system perspective for outpatient and inpatient services. We converted all country-level currency cost estimates to 2015 United States dollars (USD). We compared average costs across countries for ANC visits, deliveries, higher-risk pregnancies, and complications, and conducted sensitivity analyses. Results Our study included sites in five countries representing different regions. Overall, the relative cost of individual ANC and delivery-related healthcare use was consistent among countries, generally corresponding to country-specific income levels. ANC outpatient visit cost estimates per patient among countries ranged from 15 to 30 USD, based on average counts for visits with and without US. Estimates for antenatal screening US visits were more costly than non-US visits. Costs associated with higher-risk pregnancies were influenced by rates of hospital delivery by cesarean section (mean per person delivery cost estimate range: 25–65 USD). Conclusions Despite substantial differences among countries in infrastructures and health system capacity, there were similarities in resource allocation, delivery location, and country-level challenges. Overall, there was no clear suggestion that adding antenatal screening US would result in either major cost savings or major cost increases. However, antenatal screening US would have higher training and maintenance costs. Given the lack of clinical effectiveness evidence and greater resource constraints of LMICs, it is unlikely that introducing antenatal screening US would be economically efficient in these settings--on the demand side (i.e., patients) or supply side (i.e., healthcare providers). Trial registration Trial number: NCT01990625 (First posted: November 21, 2013 on https://clinicaltrials.gov ). |
| first_indexed | 2024-12-22T10:55:08Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-57a806d4729b42318fc176beb9ae5561 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 1471-2458 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-12-22T10:55:08Z |
| publishDate | 2021-05-01 |
| publisher | BMC |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMC Public Health |
| spelling | doaj.art-57a806d4729b42318fc176beb9ae55612022-12-21T18:28:39ZengBMCBMC Public Health1471-24582021-05-0121111610.1186/s12889-021-10750-8Cost estimation alongside a multi-regional, multi-country randomized trial of antenatal ultrasound in five low-and-middle-income countriesB. W. Bresnahan0E. Vodicka1J. B. Babigumira2A. M. Malik3F. Yego4A. Lokangaka5B. M. Chitah6Z. Bauer7H. Chavez8J. L. Moore9L. P. Garrison10J. O. Swanson11D. Swanson12E. M. McClure13R. L. Goldenberg14F. Esamai15A. L. Garces16E. Chomba17S. Saleem18A. Tshefu19C. L. Bose20M. Bauserman21W. Carlo22S. Bucher23E. A. Liechty24R. O. Nathan25Department of Radiology, University of WashingtonDepartment of Pharmacy, University of WashingtonDepartment of Global Health, University of WashingtonAga Khan UniversityMoi UniversityKinshasa School of Public HealthUniversity of ZambiaDepartment of Radiology, University of WashingtonUniversity of Francisco MarroquinRTI InternationalDepartment of Pharmacy, University of WashingtonDepartment of Radiology, University of WashingtonDepartment of Radiology, University of WashingtonRTI InternationalColumbia UniversityMoi UniversityINCAPUniversity of ZambiaAga Khan UniversityKinshasa School of Public HealthUniversity of North CarolinaUniversity of North CarolinaUniversity of Alabama BirminghamIndiana UniversityIndiana UniversityDepartment of Radiology, University of WashingtonAbstract Background Improving maternal health has been a primary goal of international health agencies for many years, with the aim of reducing maternal and child deaths and improving access to antenatal care (ANC) services, particularly in low-and-middle-income countries (LMICs). Health interventions with these aims have received more attention from a clinical effectiveness perspective than for cost impact and economic efficiency. Methods We collected data on resource use and costs as part of a large, multi-country study assessing the use of routine antenatal screening ultrasound (US) with the aim of considering the implications for economic efficiency. We assessed typical antenatal outpatient and hospital-based (facility) care for pregnant women, in general, with selective complication-related data collection in women participating in a large maternal health registry and clinical trial in five LMICs. We estimated average costs from a facility/health system perspective for outpatient and inpatient services. We converted all country-level currency cost estimates to 2015 United States dollars (USD). We compared average costs across countries for ANC visits, deliveries, higher-risk pregnancies, and complications, and conducted sensitivity analyses. Results Our study included sites in five countries representing different regions. Overall, the relative cost of individual ANC and delivery-related healthcare use was consistent among countries, generally corresponding to country-specific income levels. ANC outpatient visit cost estimates per patient among countries ranged from 15 to 30 USD, based on average counts for visits with and without US. Estimates for antenatal screening US visits were more costly than non-US visits. Costs associated with higher-risk pregnancies were influenced by rates of hospital delivery by cesarean section (mean per person delivery cost estimate range: 25–65 USD). Conclusions Despite substantial differences among countries in infrastructures and health system capacity, there were similarities in resource allocation, delivery location, and country-level challenges. Overall, there was no clear suggestion that adding antenatal screening US would result in either major cost savings or major cost increases. However, antenatal screening US would have higher training and maintenance costs. Given the lack of clinical effectiveness evidence and greater resource constraints of LMICs, it is unlikely that introducing antenatal screening US would be economically efficient in these settings--on the demand side (i.e., patients) or supply side (i.e., healthcare providers). Trial registration Trial number: NCT01990625 (First posted: November 21, 2013 on https://clinicaltrials.gov ).https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10750-8Maternal healthAntenatal careDeliveryCostHealth economicsLow-and-middle-income countries |
| spellingShingle | B. W. Bresnahan E. Vodicka J. B. Babigumira A. M. Malik F. Yego A. Lokangaka B. M. Chitah Z. Bauer H. Chavez J. L. Moore L. P. Garrison J. O. Swanson D. Swanson E. M. McClure R. L. Goldenberg F. Esamai A. L. Garces E. Chomba S. Saleem A. Tshefu C. L. Bose M. Bauserman W. Carlo S. Bucher E. A. Liechty R. O. Nathan Cost estimation alongside a multi-regional, multi-country randomized trial of antenatal ultrasound in five low-and-middle-income countries BMC Public Health Maternal health Antenatal care Delivery Cost Health economics Low-and-middle-income countries |
| title | Cost estimation alongside a multi-regional, multi-country randomized trial of antenatal ultrasound in five low-and-middle-income countries |
| title_full | Cost estimation alongside a multi-regional, multi-country randomized trial of antenatal ultrasound in five low-and-middle-income countries |
| title_fullStr | Cost estimation alongside a multi-regional, multi-country randomized trial of antenatal ultrasound in five low-and-middle-income countries |
| title_full_unstemmed | Cost estimation alongside a multi-regional, multi-country randomized trial of antenatal ultrasound in five low-and-middle-income countries |
| title_short | Cost estimation alongside a multi-regional, multi-country randomized trial of antenatal ultrasound in five low-and-middle-income countries |
| title_sort | cost estimation alongside a multi regional multi country randomized trial of antenatal ultrasound in five low and middle income countries |
| topic | Maternal health Antenatal care Delivery Cost Health economics Low-and-middle-income countries |
| url | https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-021-10750-8 |
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