[Cost Analysis of the Immunization Program Supportive Supervision in Côte-d'Ivoire]

Area of Science:

• Public Health
• Health Systems Strengthening
• Health Economics

Background:

• Immunization programs face challenges due to insufficient competent health personnel.
• Supportive supervision is a strategy to enhance health worker availability and performance.
• The Agence de Médecine Préventive (Agency for Preventive Medicine) implements technical assistance through supportive supervision.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the cost-effectiveness of supportive supervision in 10 health districts in Côte d'Ivoire.
• To identify key cost drivers within the supportive supervision framework.
• To evaluate potential cost-saving measures for immunization program support.

Main Methods:

• Data collection from financial and technical reports of supportive supervision activities.
• Inclusion of costs such as personnel, transportation, communication, supplies, and vehicle maintenance.
• Estimation of total costs, cost per item, and average cost per supervisory visit.

Main Results:

• Forty supportive supervision visits totaled $44,675.12 USD.
• Recurring costs constituted 89.79% ($40,112.12 USD) and non-recurring costs 10.21% ($4,563 USD).
• The average cost per supervisory visit was $1,116.88 USD, with personnel costs being the largest component.

Conclusions:

• Supportive supervision costs are deemed acceptable relative to program benefits.
• Potential cost reductions of 58.68% are achievable by utilizing local staff and optimizing vehicle lifespan.
• Strategies for cost savings include managing personnel expenses, optimizing tour scheduling, and focusing on districts with low Expanded Program on Immunization (EPI) indicators.