Impact and cost-effectiveness of non-governmental organizations on the HIV epidemic in Ukraine among MSM.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: Non-governmental organizations (NGOs) in Ukraine have provided HIV testing, treatment, and condom distribution for MSM. HIV prevalence among MSM in Ukraine is 5.6%. We estimated the impact and cost-effectiveness of MSM-targeted NGO activities in Ukraine. DESIGN: A mathematical model of HIV transmission among MSM was calibrated to data from Ukraine (2011-2018). METHODS: The model, designed before the 2022 Russian invasion of Ukraine, evaluated the impact of 2018 status quo coverage levels of 28% of MSM being NGO clients over 2016-2020 and 2021-2030 compared with no NGO activities over these time periods. Impact was measured in HIV incidence and infections averted. We compared the costs and disability adjusted life years (DALYs) for the status quo and a counterfactual scenario (no NGOs 2016-2020, but with NGOs thereafter) until 2030 to estimate the mean incremental cost-effectiveness ratio (cost per DALY averted). RESULTS: Without NGO activity over 2016-2020, the HIV incidence in 2021 would have been 44% (95% credibility interval 36-59%) higher than with status quo levels of NGO activity, with 25% (21-30%) more incident infections occurring over 2016-2020. Continuing with status quo NGO coverage levels will decrease HIV incidence by 41% over 2021-2030, whereas it will increase by 79% (60-120%) with no NGOs over this period and 37% (30-51%) more HIV infections will occur. Compared with if NGO activities had ceased over 2016-2020 (but continued thereafter), the status quo scenario averts 14 918 DALYs over 2016-2030 with a mean incremental cost-effectiveness ratio of US$600.15 per DALY averted. CONCLUSION: MSM-targeted NGOs in Ukraine have prevented considerable HIV infections and are highly cost-effective compared with a willingness-to-pay threshold of 50% of Ukraine's 2018 GDP (US$1548).