Abstract
Cost-effectiveness analysis is a type of economic evaluation used to determine the best use of money available for medical care for informed decision making. This study carried out a cost-effectiveness analysis of using Community Health Workers (CHWs) as an integral part of Community Health Strategy implementation to promote uptake of maternal health services in Butere District, rural western Kenya. The main objective was to determine incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of utilization of CHWs in promotion of maternal health services in Butere District (intervention site) in selected Community Health Units. The costs and consequences of promoting maternal health services at the community level with CHWs were identified, measured, valued while using a quasi experimental study design. Annual cost incurred in utilizing CHWs to promote maternal health services in Butere District in 2011 was US$ 30,124, effectiveness of utilization of CHWs was 1,205 yearly DALY averted. The incremental cost-effectiveness ratio was US$25 per yearly DALY averted.Utilization of CHWs to promote maternal health services is a cost effective strategy in Butere District. Community Health Strategy should be up scaled as it is a cost effective intervention to promote uptake of maternal health services especially in the rural population where health seeking behaviours are low.
Highlights
Cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) is a form of economic evaluation and primary tool for comparing the estimation of cost of a health intervention alongside a measure of outcome
Annual Cost incurred in utilizing Community Health Workers (CHWs) to Promote Maternal Health Services in Butere District in the Year 2011
The highest cost incurred in was time.the society invested more in indirect costs (Time) (CHC/CHWs/ Community) was calculated at a rate of Kshs.250 per day which is the amount earned for cultivating in a farm in a day (7a.m- 4.00pm =9 hours) since major source of income of households in Butere District is farming
Summary
Cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) is a form of economic evaluation and primary tool for comparing the estimation of cost of a health intervention alongside a measure of outcome (typically health gain). Estimates of cost-effectiveness for a particular health intervention, say in terms of cost per life saved, reducing the risk of a health problem, reducing the severity or duration of an illness or disability when compared with that of another, indicate where funds could be allocated to maximize health gain. Cost-effective analysis can be used to inform decision makers in the health sector regarding their policies or used in a formulaic way to determine resource allocation, [4]. Allocative efficiency of health systems supports analytical efforts to study the cost-effectiveness of a broad range of interventions
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