Publication: Cost effectiveness and resource allocation of Plasmodium falciparum malaria control in Myanmar: a modelling analysis of bed nets and community health workers
Issued Date
2015
Resource Type
Language
eng
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Mahidol University
Rights Holder(s)
BioMed Central
Bibliographic Citation
Malaria Journal. Vol.14, (2015), 376
Suggested Citation
Drake, Tom L., Kyaw, Shwe Sin, Kyaw, Myat Phone, Smithuis, Frank M., Day, Nicholas P. J., White, Lisa J., Yoel Lubell Cost effectiveness and resource allocation of Plasmodium falciparum malaria control in Myanmar: a modelling analysis of bed nets and community health workers. Malaria Journal. Vol.14, (2015), 376. doi:10.1186/s12936-015-0886-x Retrieved from: https://repository.li.mahidol.ac.th/handle/20.500.14594/3088
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Title
Cost effectiveness and resource allocation of Plasmodium falciparum malaria control in Myanmar: a modelling analysis of bed nets and community health workers
Abstract
Background: Funding for malaria control and elimination in Myanmar has increased markedly in recent years. While
there are various malaria control tools currently available, two interventions receive the majority of malaria control
funding in Myanmar: (1) insecticide-treated bed nets and (2) early diagnosis and treatment through malaria community
health workers. This study aims to provide practical recommendations on how to maximize impact from investment
in these interventions.
Methods: A simple decision tree is used to model intervention costs and effects in terms of years of life lost. The
evaluation is from the perspective of the service provider and costs and effects are calculated in line with standard
methodology. Sensitivity and scenario analysis are undertaken to identify key drivers of cost effectiveness. Standard
cost effectiveness analysis is then extended via a spatially explicit resource allocation model.
Findings: Community health workers have the potential for high impact on malaria, particularly where there are
few alternatives to access malaria treatment, but are relatively costly. Insecticide-treated bed nets are comparatively
inexpensive and modestly effective in Myanmar, representing a low risk but modest return intervention. Unlike some
healthcare interventions, bed nets and community health workers are not mutually exclusive nor are they necessarily
at their most efficient when universally applied. Modelled resource allocation scenarios highlight that in this case
there is no “one size fits all” cost effectiveness result. Health gains will be maximized by effective targeting of both
interventions.