Cost-Effectiveness of Universal Repeat Human Immunodeficiency Virus Screening in Pregnancy: A Cross-Sectional Study from Western India.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to evaluate the cost-effectiveness of universal repeat human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) screening late in pregnancy as opposed to the existing system of single HIV test early in pregnancy. BACKGROUND: Strategy of universal repeat HIV screening in pregnancy to achieve Elimination of mother to child transmission in a low prevalence setting such as India should be examined from the cost-effectiveness point of view. METHODOLOGY: In a cross-sectional study, 2500 pregnant women with 32 weeks gestation or more and screened HIV nonreactive at least 3 months before the study were offered repeat HIV screening. A decision analysis model was used to determine cost-effectiveness of a repeat HIV screening late in pregnancy in both government (societal) and healthcare payer perspectives, followed by one-way sensitivity analysis at different rates of incident HIV in pregnancy. RESULTS: The incidence of HIV infection during pregnancy was 1.18/1000 women years (95% confidence interval: 0.29-4.7). The existing system of single HIV test is 1.9 times costlier per quality adjusted life years gained than the proposed system of repeat HIV screening. CONCLUSION: When the incidence of HIV in pregnancy is 1.18/1000 woman-years, even in settings with antenatal HIV positivity rates as low as 0.01%, repeat HIV screening in pregnancy is cost effective.