training of midwives very cost effective in zambia

PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 627 - 30 Apr 2011

Training of midwives very costeffective in Zambia

The WHO Essential Newborn Care (ENC) training ofmidwives in urban Zambia is "very cost-effective", sayresearchers who published their findings in Pediatrics.

Data from this study were obtained during two 1-yearperiods before and after primary care midwives(n = 123) were trained in ENC by 18 ENC instructors.Costs (reported in 2005 values) for implementing andmaintaining the program were included; clinicaloutcome was assessed using 7-day neonatal mortalityrate. A total of 40 615 neonates were born in the twostudy periods.

Total costs for the program were found to be$US20 224. The mortality rate at 7 days fell from 11.5per 1000 live births before the training wasimplemented to 6.8 per 1000 live births after ENCtraining (relative risk 0.59; 95% CI: 0.48, 0.77;p < 0.001). Overall, 97 lives were saved during thestudy, at an estimated cost of $208 per life saved. Basedon the life expectancy in Zambia, the researchersestimated this cost to be $5.24 per disability-adjustedlife-year saved – a value which compares favourablewith other neonatal interventions in Zambia, say theresearchers.Manasyan A, et al. Cost-effectiveness of Essential Newborn Care Training inUrban First-Level Facilities. Pediatrics : 18 Apr 2011. Available from: URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1542/peds.2010-2158 803053724

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PharmacoEconomics & Outcomes News 30 Apr 2011 No. 6271173-5503/10/0627-0001/$14.95 © 2010 Adis Data Information BV. All rights reserved