Cost-effectiveness of treatment strategies for cervical infection among women at high risk in Madagascar.

BACKGROUND

According to the national guidelines developed in 2001, a woman at high risk of gonorrhea and chlamydia in Madagascar is treated presumptively at her first sexually transmitted infection clinic visit; risk-based treatment (RB) is subsequently used at 3-month visits.

OBJECTIVES

To compare health and economic outcomes for a 2-stage Markov process with the following 3 cervical infection treatment policies at baseline and at 3-month follow-up visit: presumptive treatment (PT), RB, and an interim laboratory/risk-based policy.

STUDY

DESIGN

Cost-effectiveness analysis was used to compare the 9 treatment strategies.

RESULTS

When 3-month incidence of cervical infection is <20%, the national guidelines are less costly and less effective than both RB followed by PT, and PT at both visits.

CONCLUSIONS

The national guidelines are a reasonable strategy, especially in the context of resource constraints, relatively low reinfection rates, and local preferences.