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Costs and benefits of implementing child survival services at a private mining company in Peru
K G Foreit1, D Haustein, M Winterhalter
1Futures Group, Washington, DC 20005-5601.
Insights
Implementing integrated child health services in a Peruvian mining company significantly improved vaccination rates and reduced unnecessary medication. This initiative demonstrated cost savings and enhanced child survival measures.
Area of Science:
- Public Health
- Occupational Health
- Pediatrics
Background:
- Child health services in a Peruvian private mining company showed significant inefficiencies.
- Low vaccination coverage and high rates of untreated illnesses were observed in children under 5.
- Company clinic services often involved unnecessary medication for pediatric conditions.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the costs and savings associated with child health services.
- To improve child survival rates through enhanced healthcare interventions.
- To assess the impact of integrated maternal and child health services.
Main Methods:
- Conducted a study on child health service costs and outcomes.
- Implemented integrated maternal-child preventive health care and family planning.
- Provided additional staff, intensive training, and on-site supervision.
- Contracted for specialized training and ongoing supervision.
Main Results:
- Vaccination coverage increased to 75% within two years.
- Enrollment in growth monitoring for infants under 1 reached nearly 100%.
- Prescription rates decreased by 24%, with a 67% reduction in antimicrobial use.
- Pharmaceutical costs for respiratory infections and diarrhea decreased by approximately $6800.
Conclusions:
- Integrated maternal and child health services are effective in improving child survival.
- The implemented program demonstrated significant cost savings in pharmaceuticals.
- The success of the program encourages wider adoption of child survival measures in corporate health plans.
Abstract:
Costs and savings of child health services were studied in a private mining company in Peru. Despite considerable outlays for medical services, few children under age 5 were vaccinated, and half of their illnesses went untreated. Children who were attended at the company clinic usually received unnecessary medication. As a result of the study, the company hired additional staff to provide integrated maternal-child preventive health care and family planning and contracted for intensive training and periodic on-site supervision. In less than 2 years, vaccination coverage reached 75%, and virtually all children under age 1 were enrolled in growth monitoring. Prescriptions were reduced by 24%, including a 67% drop in antimicrobials. The cost of the new services was $13,200 for the first 2 years. Approximately $6800 has been saved in pharmaceuticals prescribed for respiratory infection and diarrhea. Recently, two more mines adopted maternal and child health and family planning services. It is hoped that cost-benefit arguments will encourage other companies to incorporate aggressive child survival measures into their health plans.