Cost-Effectiveness of Interventions to Prevent HIV and STDs Among Women: A Randomized Control Trial

AIDS and Behavior, April 2014, DOI 10.1007/s10461-014-0745-8

11 Pages Posted: 29 Apr 2014 Last revised: 14 Oct 2014

See all articles by Jennifer Prah Ruger

Jennifer Prah Ruger

University of Pennsylvania - School of Social Policy & Practice; University of Pennsylvania - Perelman School of Medicine

Arbi Ben Abdallah

Wash. U. INQUIRI - Dept. of Anesthesiology

Nora Y. Ng

Yale University

Craig Luekens

Yale University

Linda Cottler

University of Florida

Date Written: April 4, 2014

Abstract

Injection drug use is a leading transmission route of HIV and STDs, and disease prevention among drug users is an important public health concern. This study assesses cost-effectiveness of behavioral interventions for reducing HIV and STDs infections among injection drug-using women. Cost-effectiveness analysis was conducted from societal and provider perspectives for randomized trial data and Bernoullian model estimates of infections averted for three increasingly intensive interventions: (1) NIDA's standard intervention (SI); (2) SI plus a well woman exam (WWE); and (3) SI, WWE, plus four educational sessions (4ES). Trial results indicate that 4ES was cost-effective relative to WWE, which was dominated by SI, for most diseases. Model estimates, however, suggest that WWE was cost-effective relative to SI and dominated 4ES for all diseases. Trial and model results agree that WWE is cost-effective relative to SI per hepatitis C infection averted ($109,308 for in trial, $6,016 in model) and per gonorrhea infection averted ($9,461 in trial, $14,044 in model). In sensitivity analysis, trial results are sensitive to 5% change in WWE effectiveness relative to SI for hepatitis C and HIV. In the model, WWE remained cost-effective or cost-saving relative to SI for HIV prevention across a range of assumptions. WWE is cost-effective relative to SI for preventing hepatitis C and gonorrhea. WWE may have similar effects as the costlier 4ES.

Keywords: HIV, STDs, Bernoullian model, cost-effectiveness, cost effectiveness, substance abuse

Suggested Citation

Prah Ruger, Jennifer and Ben Abdallah, Arbi and Ng, Nora Y. and Luekens, Craig and Cottler, Linda, Cost-Effectiveness of Interventions to Prevent HIV and STDs Among Women: A Randomized Control Trial (April 4, 2014). AIDS and Behavior, April 2014, DOI 10.1007/s10461-014-0745-8, Available at SSRN: https://ssrn.com/abstract=2429434

Jennifer Prah Ruger (Contact Author)

University of Pennsylvania - School of Social Policy & Practice ( email )

3701 Locust Walk
Philadelphia, PA 19104-6214
United States

University of Pennsylvania - Perelman School of Medicine

423 Guardian Drive
Philadelphia, PA 19104
United States

Arbi Ben Abdallah

Wash. U. INQUIRI - Dept. of Anesthesiology ( email )

660 S. Euclid Ave., Third Floor McMillan
St. Louis, MO 63110-1010
United States

Nora Y. Ng

Yale University ( email )

493 College St
New Haven, CT CT 06520
United States

Craig Luekens

Yale University ( email )

493 College St
New Haven, CT CT 06520
United States

Linda Cottler

University of Florida ( email )

PO Box 117165, 201 Stuzin Hall
Gainesville, FL 32610-0496
United States

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