Assessment of the Potential Impact and Cost-effectiveness of Self-Testing for HIV in Low-Income Countries.
J Infect Dis
; 212(4): 570-7, 2015 Aug 15.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-25767214
BACKGROUND: Studies have demonstrated that self-testing for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) is highly acceptable among individuals and could allow cost savings, compared with provider-delivered HIV testing and counseling (PHTC), although the longer-term population-level effects are uncertain. We evaluated the cost-effectiveness of introducing self-testing in 2015 over a 20-year time frame in a country such as Zimbabwe. METHODS: The HIV synthesis model was used. Two scenarios were considered. In the reference scenario, self-testing is not available, and the rate of first-time and repeat PHTC is assumed to increase from 2015 onward, in line with past trends. In the intervention scenario, self-testing is introduced at a unit cost of $3. RESULTS: We predict that the introduction of self-testing would lead to modest savings in healthcare costs of $75 million, while averting around 7000 disability-adjusted life-years over 20 years. Findings were robust to most variations in assumptions; however, higher cost of self-testing, lower linkage to care for people whose diagnosis is a consequence of a positive self-test result, and lower threshold for antiretroviral therapy eligibility criteria could lead to situations in which self-testing is not cost-effective. CONCLUSIONS: This analysis suggests that introducing self-testing offers some health benefits and may well save costs.
Palabras clave
Texto completo:
1
Banco de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Autocuidado
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Infecciones por VIH
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Países en Desarrollo
Tipo de estudio:
Health_economic_evaluation
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Prevalence_studies
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Prognostic_studies
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Risk_factors_studies
Límite:
Humans
País/Región como asunto:
Africa
Idioma:
En
Revista:
J Infect Dis
Año:
2015
Tipo del documento:
Article