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An economic evaluation of a school-based sexually transmitted disease screening program
Li Yan Wang1, Gale R Burstein, Deborah A Cohen
1Division of Adolescent and School Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, Georgia, USA. lgw0@cdc.gov
Sexually Transmitted Diseases
|December 6, 2002
Summary
School-based screening for sexually transmitted diseases (STDs) in New Orleans was cost-saving. This program prevented pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) cases and reduced treatment costs, demonstrating value for public health initiatives.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Epidemiology
- Health Economics
Background:
- A school-based sexually transmitted disease (STD) screening program was implemented in eight New Orleans public high schools.
- The program focused on detecting chlamydia and gonorrhea among adolescents.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the incremental cost-effectiveness of school-based STD screening compared to non-school-based screening.
- To quantify the economic benefits of preventing pelvic inflammatory disease (PID) through early detection.
Main Methods:
- A decision-analysis model was used to compare two scenarios: school-based screening versus non-school-based screening.
- Cost-effectiveness was measured as the cost per case of PID prevented.
Main Results:
- The school screening program cost $86,449 and prevented an estimated 38 cases of PID.
- This resulted in savings of $119,866 in PID treatment costs, equating to $1524 saved per case of PID prevented.
- Cost-savings were consistent across various model parameter estimates.
Conclusions:
- The New Orleans school-based chlamydia screening program proved to be cost-effective and cost-saving.
- Such programs represent a valuable use of public funds and can effectively reduce the burden of STDs in adolescent populations.
- The model suggests similar cost-effectiveness in other settings.