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[Cost-effectiveness analysis (CEA) regarding vitamin A in children aged less than 5 years-old in Colombia]

Hoover Quitian1, Natalia Castaño1, Claudia Granados1

  • 1Departamento de Epidemiología Clínica y Bioestadística, Facultad de Medicina, Pontificia Universidad Javeriana, Bogotá, Colombia, quitianh@javeriana.edu.co.

Revista De Salud Publica (Bogota, Colombia)
|December 19, 2014
PubMed

Insights

Vitamin A supplementation in children under 5 is a cost-effective strategy, significantly reducing diarrhea and malaria cases. This approach saves money for the Colombian health system by preventing illnesses and hospitalizations.

Area of Science:

  • Public Health
  • Health Economics
  • Pediatrics

Background:

  • Vitamin A deficiency is a significant public health concern in developing countries.
  • Diarrhea and malaria are leading causes of childhood mortality.
  • Effective interventions are crucial for reducing the burden of these diseases.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To evaluate the cost-effectiveness of vitamin A supplementation for children under 5.
  • To assess the impact on diarrhea, malaria, and mortality within the Colombian health system.

Main Methods:

  • A decision tree model was used to estimate deaths averted.
  • Probabilities were sourced from existing literature, and costs from official Colombian data.
  • Sensitivity analyses and cost-effectiveness acceptability curves were employed.

Main Results:

  • Supplementing 100,000 children with vitamin A resulted in cost savings of over $340 million.
  • Significant reductions were observed in diarrhea (4,268 events) and malaria (76 events).
  • Reduced hospitalizations contributed to overall cost-effectiveness.

Conclusions:

  • Vitamin A supplementation is a dominant strategy for the Colombian health system.
  • It is the most cost-effective and effective intervention compared to no supplementation.
  • This highlights the value of vitamin A in child health programs.
Abstract

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