Publication: Cost-Effectiveness of Establishing a Community-Based Friend Centre versus Implementing a Training Course for MSM
Issued Date
2020
Resource Type
Language
eng
ISSN
2697-584X (Print)
2697-5866 (Online)
2697-5866 (Online)
Rights
Mahidol University
Rights Holder(s)
Research Centre for Health Economics and Evaluation Faculty of Public Health Mahidol University
Bibliographic Citation
Thai Journal of Public Health. Vol. 50, No. 3 (September-December 2020), 292-305
Suggested Citation
Sittikorn Rongsumlee, Chantal Herberholz, Kyaw Min Soe, Sukhontha Kongsin Cost-Effectiveness of Establishing a Community-Based Friend Centre versus Implementing a Training Course for MSM. Thai Journal of Public Health. Vol. 50, No. 3 (September-December 2020), 292-305. Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/63663
Research Projects
Organizational Units
Authors
Journal Issue
Thesis
Title
Cost-Effectiveness of Establishing a Community-Based Friend Centre versus Implementing a Training Course for MSM
Abstract
This cross-sectional study aimed to determine
the cost–effectiveness of two HIV prevention interventions:
1. a community-based friend centre (P1)
versus 2. a training course (P2) for men who have
sex with men (MSM) in Ubon Ratchathani province,
Thailand. The interventions were implemented for
two rounds (R1 and R2) during 2008-2010. The
study involved 224 MSM who were enrolled in the
two interventions between 2008 and 2010. Participants
were interviewed using questionnaires to assess
their knowledge and attitude towards HIV/AIDS.
Cost-effectiveness analysis was carried out to
compare the two interventions. There were 37 (51.4%)
participants in R1 and 47 (65.3%) in R2 with sound
knowledge for P1. For P2, 8 (20%) out of 40 in
R1 and 17 (42.5%) in R2 were found to have sound
knowledge of HIV/AIDS. 57 (79%) participants in
R1 and 64 (88.9%) in R2 had preferable attitude
for P1. 77.5% of participants in R1 and 85% in R2
had preferable attitude for P2. The costs per MSM
with sound knowledge were 869 baht (27 USD) per
person in R1 and 682 baht (21 USD) per person
in R2 of P1, which were significantly lower compared
to those of P2 for the same period (3,820 baht per
person for P2R1, 1,899 baht per person for P2R2).
The costs per one MSM with preferable attitude of
P1, 564 baht (18 USD) per person for R1, 501 baht
(16 USD) per person in R2 were significantly
higher compared to that of P2 for the same round
(1,455 baht per person in R1, 949 baht per person
in R2). The results from our study suggest that
establishing a community-based friend centre (P1) was
more effective and cost-effective than implementing
a training course (P2) for achieving desired outcomes
with less cost. Therefore, the HIV prevention program
for MSM should consider establishing a communitybased
friend centre in the long run rather than
implementing a training course.